County approves horse racing, fair entertainment contracts – The Electric

Cascade County Commissioners voted unanimously during their July 9 meeting to approve entertainment contracts for the 2024 Montana State Fair.

The approved a $609,500 contract with Neste Live for the night show entertainment, which includes:

• Starship and Foghat: July 28
• Bush: July 29
• Trace Adkins: July 30
• Tape Face: Aug. 1
• Jeff Dunham: Aug. 2
• Newboys: Aug. 3

The flat rate contract will be paid in two equal installments of $304,750, the first on July 28 and second on Aug. 3, according to Susan Shannon, Expo Park manager.

It’s the second year the county has contracted with Neste Live for fair night shows.

Montana State Fair adds more acts, including Starship, Foghat

Commissioner Rae Grulkowski said, “I hear good things about these performances.”

There was no public comment on the night show contract.

There was also no public comment on the fairgrounds entertainment, which was also approved unanimously.

Montana State Fair night concert lineup; summer concerts downtown

Grounds entertainment includes:

• Strolling Piano: 27 hours of strolling entertainment July 26-Aug. 3 for $14,500 plus two hotel rooms July 25-Aug. 3
• Plant Guy: 15 hours of strolling entertainment July 30-Aug. 3 for $5,500 plus one hotel room for the same dates
• Funkanometry: 27 hours of entertainment July 26-Aug. 3 for $27,000 plus two hotel rooms July 24-Aug. 3
• Cast in Bronze: 27 hours of entertainment July 26-Aug. 3 for $18,000 plus two hotel rooms July 25-Aug. 3
• Mirror Men: 27 hours of strolling entertainment July 26-Aug. 3 for $18,000 plus two hotel rooms July 25-Aug. 3

On June 25, commissioners approved a contract with the Great Falls Turf Club for the 12th year of horse racing at the Montana State Fair.

Under the agreement, the county pays the Turf Club $13,000 per race date up to a maximum of $75,000 to be paid as purses for the races for a max of seven race dates.

County releases 2023 fair numbers

Race dates are July 13-14, July 20-21 and July 27-28.

The 2023 state fair generated $1,942,060 in total revenue, according to the county.

Food concessionaires grossed $979,609, according to the county.

County approves entertainment contracts for state fair

The Mighty Thomas Carnival provided rides and games for the 30th year at the fair and grossed $809,982 in 2023, down from the previous two years.

In 2021, County Commissioners approved a five-year contract with the Mighty Thomas Carnival for fair rides, sideshows, carnival games and concessions on the grounds for the Montana State Fair at Montana Expo Park.

The 2020 fair is included in the contract though it was cancelled due to COVID-19 and the contract covers fairs for 2021-2024.

County approves horse racing contract

In the contract, the carnival agrees to present rides with an hourly passenger capacity of at least 80 percent of those at the 2019 fair.

The carnival pays the fair 35 percent of gross ride ticket sales, net of applicable sales taxes, up to $350,000 in sales; and 40 percent of those sales over $350,000, according to the contract. The carnival also agrees to pay 10 percent of ticket gross of up to two “extreme” rides and the designation of “extreme” is mutually agreed upon by both parties, according to the contract.

County approves use of new talent booking firm for state fair

In July 2023, commissioners approved a $594,050 contract with NesteLive! for the night concerts at the 2023 fair.

Neste Live is the talent booking agency for the county’s fair this year and the night shows include Chris Janson, Toby Mac, Josh Turner, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, The Commodores and AWOLNATION.

County releases 2022 fair numbers

Susan Shannon, Expo Park manager, told The Electric that night show revenues were $525,900.

Shannon said she’s estimating this year’s fair expenses to come in at $1,919,145.

The 2023 fair had 76,055 total paid guests and total fair gate admission revenue was $424,928, according to the county.

Attendance for the four-night PRCA Big Sky Pro Rodeo was 8,449.