SYRACUSE - The New York State Fair will use competitive bidding to book its grandstand and free concerts next year, said state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker.
Fair management has been criticized because it gave a one-year, $700,000 no-bid contract to Live Nation to book and promote this summer's shows.
The Post-Standard of Syracuse reported Sunday that the deal will cost the fair about $500,000 than it spent in 2007, when its longtime marketing director handled the work before he was fired.
The newspaper also reported that state Agriculture & Markets officials appeared to have misled the state comptroller when they requested an exemption from bidding rules. State law requires the fair to get bids on any contract worth more than $50,000.
State Fair Director Dan O'Hara has defended the deal, saying Live Nation helped the fair sell a record $3.7 million in concert tickets through Aug. 5. O'Hara said the departure of marketing director Joe LaGuardia did not leave officials with enough time to put the contract out for bidding.
Other concert producers, however, said they would have booked a similar or better lineup of performers for the 2008 fair for less money if the state had sought competitive proposals.
Live Nation is also the tour manager for six of the 11 acts it booked for the fair grandstand this year.
Fair officials were not immediately available Thursday for comment.
New York will pay Live Nation $6.50 for every fair concert ticket sold, an amount expected to reach $535,000. It also agreed to pay Live Nation up to $165,000 to advertise the concerts.
Additionally, the state agreed to let Live Nation keep 57 percent of the concert sponsorship revenue it attracts, about $71,000 more. The deal also gives Live Nation a rent-free concession where it can gross an estimated $200,000 in food, beer and wine sales.
This year's grandstand performers include Toby Keith, the Jonas Brothers, Brooks and Dunn, Def Leppard and Boston. Free concerts include Eddie Money, Ted Nugent, The Spinners and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
The Post-Standard of Syracuse reported Sunday that the deal will cost the fair about $500,000 than it spent in 2007, when its longtime marketing director handled the work before he was fired.
The newspaper also reported that state Agriculture & Markets officials appeared to have misled the state comptroller when they requested an exemption from bidding rules. State law requires the fair to get bids on any contract worth more than $50,000.
State Fair Director Dan O'Hara has defended the deal, saying Live Nation helped the fair sell a record $3.7 million in concert tickets through Aug. 5. O'Hara said the departure of marketing director Joe LaGuardia did not leave officials with enough time to put the contract out for bidding.
Other concert producers, however, said they would have booked a similar or better lineup of performers for the 2008 fair for less money if the state had sought competitive proposals.
Live Nation is also the tour manager for six of the 11 acts it booked for the fair grandstand this year.
Fair officials were not immediately available Thursday for comment.
New York will pay Live Nation $6.50 for every fair concert ticket sold, an amount expected to reach $535,000. It also agreed to pay Live Nation up to $165,000 to advertise the concerts.
Additionally, the state agreed to let Live Nation keep 57 percent of the concert sponsorship revenue it attracts, about $71,000 more. The deal also gives Live Nation a rent-free concession where it can gross an estimated $200,000 in food, beer and wine sales.
This year's grandstand performers include Toby Keith, the Jonas Brothers, Brooks and Dunn, Def Leppard and Boston. Free concerts include Eddie Money, Ted Nugent, The Spinners and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
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