City reimbursed for Roots ‘N Blues expenses
A ticketed area was proposed to help pay for this year's event.
Published July 6, 2009
City Council and members of Thumper Entertainment paved the way for ticketed areas at the 2009 Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival by paying back the city of Columbia for services provided during last year’s festivities.
In 2008, the city provided more than $38,000 worth of services for the event, ranging from extra police protection to trash cleanup afterward. Until Monday night, Thumper Entertainment, the group that puts on the festival, had not reimbursed the city for those expenses.
During a pre-council meeting, Thumper Entertainment representatives met with the council and proposed paying the city back for these services. The group then presented a check for the whole amount to the council during the council’s official meeting.
Festival manager Nicole Thieret said this was the best way to clear the air with the city from last year.
“We wanted to make our good faith effort to show that this is an event for the community,” Thieret said. “These were services the city provided to us and we wanted to make sure they were compensated for that.”
Before the council meeting, ticketing procedures for this year’s event, which will be held on the weekend of Sept. 25, were also discussed.
Thumper Entertainment representative Terry Woodruff said advance tickets would cost $10 for a day pass and $15 for a weekend pass. This price would be increased during the event to $15 and $25, respectively. Children ages 12 and younger would receive free admission.
Woodruff said tickets would be sold at Boone County National Bank branches, Break Time gas stations statewide, Ticketmaster outlets and online.
Thumper Entertainment partner Steve Sweitzer said the company’s goal was to keep the event affordable.
“Our mission has always been to be all inclusive. It’s always been that, and I think there has been some misinformation about that out there,” Sweitzer said. “We want everybody to be able to come and participate in the ticketed area.”
Sweitzer said the city would receive about 500 tickets for acting as a sponsor of the event and he said a volunteer program might be implemented that would allow people to trade two or three hours of work for a free ticket.
Thieret said only a certain section of the event would not be free. She said the two main stages, one located in Peace Park and the other located on Seventh Street from Cherry Street to Elm Street, would be the only areas requiring tickets.
Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Wade said he was originally opposed to the idea of tickets for areas of the event, but he said the plan presented to the council was “very reasonable” and he was pleased after Thumper Entertainment offered to pay back the total cost of the services the city provided last year.
Wade said he would now tentatively support tickets for the event.
Sixth Ward Councilman Jason Thornhill also said he would vote for ticketed areas so long as the $40,000 in services the city is providing this year are used appropriately.
“I think if it is done correctly and we can know that the money the city provides is used primarily for free services open to everyone, then I support it because I don’t think the event can happen without it,” Thornhill said.
The council will vote on the measure during its July 20 meeting.
