Recession Could Prove To Be Boon For Attendance
With each day seemingly delivering more news of economic
despair, the air show industry begins its 2009 season this month
under a sky of optimism... with all indicators pointing to an
attendance surge as families search for low-cost, high-value, local
entertainment, according to the International Council of Air
Shows.
Initial reports on spectator attendance at the season's earliest
air shows suggest the optimism is well-founded. "The numbers are
still coming in, but we think it was the largest attendance in our
29-year history," said Fred Buckingham, chairman of the Florida
International Show, held March 21-22 in Punta Gorda. Buckingham
estimated 2009 attendance at 65,000, a substantial increase of more
than 18 percent over the previous record of 55,000.
"Families are cutting costs, but they're still looking for
quality entertainment," said John Cudahy, president of the
International Council of Air Shows. "That's why air show attendance
spikes in a bad economy. Ticket prices are low, but the
entertainment value is high." Cudahy reported a 12 to 15 percent
increase in air show attendance during 2008, which followed
patterns witnessed during 1980-1982 and 1990-1991 recessions.
Fueling the attendance increase are ticket prices that are a
fraction of the cost of other entertainment venues, such as
amusement parks and professional sporting events. "An air show
ticket is closer in price to a movie ticket than to a theme park or
baseball game," said Cudahy. "Now, with gasoline prices down and
recessionary concerns putting other leisure options on hold, air
shows are an increasingly attractive option."
Once spectators arrive at air shows, they find a level of
entertainment that exceeds what they can get anywhere else, at any
price: military demonstration teams such as the US Navy Blue Angels
and the US Air Force Thunderbirds, aerobatic performances by the
world's most talented pilots, and a collection of museum-quality,
vintage aircraft that can only be seen flying at air shows.
"What's great about air shows is they showcase all that is good
about our country," said Bill Roach, who runs the Wings over
Houston Airshow. "They're exciting, patriotic, and educational. The
variety of jets, vintage airplanes, parachute acts, sailplanes, and
ground acts ensures that there's something of interest for
everyone."
The Houston show was held in late October. Organizers expected
an attendance drop based both on the economy and the effects of
Hurricane Ike, which had decimated Texas weeks earlier. Instead,
the show saw attendance climb to record levels, a phenomenon
reported across the nation... most noticeably in the fall, after
news of the economic downturn became particularly grim.
Between early April and mid-November, more than 10 million
spectators will attend more than 400 air shows from San Diego to
New York City to British Columbia to Miami. If you want to do your
part... find the one nearest you. Or even attend two!