SHOW ME CENTER ATTENDANCE DOWN; EVENTS COORDINATOR BLAMES THE ECONOMY

Attendance last fiscal year at the Show Me Center was at its lowest annual level since the building opened in 1987, a fact attributable at least partly to a dip in the economy, said Christopher Washko, the center's events coordinator.

"They're not really that far down, as a matter of fact," Washko said. "I think the economy had an effect; people just didn't buy tickets as much as usual.

"That's been the case for entertainment events across the board all over the country. It's a dent that everybody's feeling in the entertainment business."

From June 30, 1990, through June of this year, total Show Me Center attendance was 300,255, compared with 385,579 in 1989-90. In 1988-89, the facility enjoyed its highest annual attendance with 391,353, up from 330,851 its first year of operation in 1987-88.

While attendance has dropped the past two years, the number of events including all scheduled events; not just sporting events, trade shows and concerts has increased steadily, from 215 events in 1987-88 to 456 this past year.

Washko said the increase in the number of events held at the Show Me Center reflects the diversity of entertainment and programming that has been strived for.

"As the facility has grown, the word has gotten out, and it's enjoyed an increasing number of events," he said. "We're still trying to program to meet a variety of interests for the surrounding community.

"We're pretty much on track with providing the best entertainment for the widest audience possible," said Washko.

Washko said diversity is the key to planning Show Me Center events. He said the facility must be able to provide entertainment for as many community interests as possible.

"I do think the Show Me Center has done an exemplary job of trying to run the gamut of serving everybody," Washko said. "We're definitely on target and in tune with what the community wants."

He said the center will continue to try to schedule the same types of concerts, sporting events, trade shows, civic events and family entertainment that have been held there since 1987.

Washko said that fewer "arena-type" events were scheduled this year at the Show Me Center than were held last year, which also might have contributed to the drop in attendance. This year, six such events were held compared with nine last year.

The events coordinator said events such as the "New Trends in Agriculture" trade show, held earlier this month, and the World Wrestling Federation, which is scheduled for August, will help get next fiscal year's attendance off to a good start.

"We didn't do as many arena dates this year, so I'm sure that's had some effect on the numbers," he said. "But with some of the things we've got scheduled this summer and fall, I imagine we'll finish out pretty well."

He said talent for the Show Me Center concerts is left largely up to what's available and what a promoter can put together.

"As far as the type of entertainment, we let them know what we'd like to get, then they put together a package and we offer them a deal," he said.

Washko said he doesn't think there will be any need to change the types of events planned for the Show Me Center in the coming year.

"I didn't really see too much of a downturn," he said. "We're always looking upward to the future. When you look at the figures now, they're not really down too far.

"But, as far as the programming and the number of people who attend the events, there's nowhere to go but up."