State Fair Hound

An independent view of the New York State Fair

Category: Hound’s view (Page 2 of 9)

Choo Choo Ch’Boogie

A recent article posted on the news website Current Central (If you’re not a reader, you should be) has inspired The Hound to once again bark up a favorite tree.

Reporter Chris Libonati writes that Onondaga County Exec Ryan McMahon is considering the possibility of implementing bus rapid and light rail as local transportation options. In terms of our perhaps- fanciful idea for use during the New York State Fair, we’ll focus on the light rail. BUBBLE X KIDS 19Our understanding is that it would be a local-use train providing quick trips for commuters who may otherwise be driving a personal vehicle or taking a bus.

Libonati compares the rail plan to the OnTrack train routes that ran from 1994 to 2008. That train didn’t roll to the Fairgrounds, but it sure would be great to have that option. Driving and parking in Fair lots can be slow and frustrating, especially on high-attendance days and when a concert at the Amp complicates the approach.

It seems that the use of a train to deliver customers to the Fair would provide a fun, fast option that would keep cars off I-690 and State Fair Boulevard while freeing up space in parking lots.TRACKS 15 Amtrack trains already stop at the mini-depot near the racing stables to drop off passengers from neighboring towns, so we wonder if they could also bring folks from downtown and Syracuse suburbs.

As The Hound advocated in Slow Roll (Sep. 15, 2019), taking a local train to the Fair would add some fun and convenience to the trip, which would be better than navigating the massive traffic jams that often leave us exiting our cars exasperated. There are many tracks that run past the Fairgrounds and trains–mostly freight trains–roll by frequently.

Maybe the Fair should partner with County officials to put the Fairgrounds in the loop, literally of the light rail plan, putting Fair commuters on track for a smoother ride. It would be a major project, but linking it to the proposed light rail system makes it seem possible.

 

 

Flag Waiver

The recent booking of country-style crooner Lee Greenwood to play Chevy Court at the 2023 New York State Fair is disturbing in that the Fair is calling his Armed Forces Day appearance “patriotic.” Greenwood has tried to sell himself as a great patriot by hyping his syrupy ballad, “God Bless the USA.” One song does not a patriot make, especially when the singer has repeatedly cozied up to the treasonous political pariah who brought you ethnic hatred, shady deals, election fraud, a boatload of self-serving lies and an attempted coup.CC PLAQUE 18

No true patriot would stand on stage in support of Mango Mussolini. Flag waving and lyrics claiming to “love this land” ring hollow in the presence of  the most corrupt president in American history. It’s appalling that, just as some of this demagogue’s supporters call themselves Christians, Greenwood calls himself a patriot.

It’s fair to wonder how the honorees on Armed Forces Day feel about Greenwood’s hero, the guy who wants to pardon the hundreds of convicted felons who brutally attacked law enforcement officers and trashed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Don’t forget that the draft-dodging, former psychopath-in-chief called military personnel “Losers.”

Greenwood doesn’t even need this gig. He can get plenty of work playing rallies for his favorite future inmate. If the Fair wants to bring him in to sing his bland repertoire, they certainly can. Just don’t be fooled into thinking that his most famous song makes him a patriot. He’s far from it.

Double Trouble

It’s not surprising that the news from the Gov’s budget address generating the most response in the neighborhoods surrounding Geddes is her plan to increase prices at the New York State Fair. EXPO LONG VIEWContrary to the view expressed by one lunkhead who trashed the Fair in a letter to the Post-Standard, local folks love it and express their intense interest and strong opinions without prompting.

Last year’s $3 admission seemed artificially low, so doubling up to six bucks is no big deal. Considering all you get inside the gates without spending another dime, it’s a tremendous bargain and would be even at a higher price.

Parking has been $5 for many years, so an increase doesn’t seem unreasonable, though twice the old price is a bit of a jolt. In order to make it worth the cost, the State Fair brain trust has to improve the parking experience for customers. GATE 4It’s a process that has been begging for an upgrade for decades.

The first thing they should do is improve efficiency of the parking staff to expedite the flow of incoming traffic. Too often lines filing into the lots are unnecessarily slow, sometimes painfully slow, as too many attendants just stand around instead of hustling to process cars. While we shouldn’t be too tough on the generally-young folks who hold down those 13-day jobs in the lots, a little supervision and organization would certainly be in order. There needs to be a little more urgency and greater focus on customer service.

For $10, patrons have a right to expect expeditious processing, which may include more EZ Pass lanes. PARKEDAnd they should discontinue the ridiculous no-cash policy, which can also cause delays when  technology glitches slow things down.

The massive brown lot is in poor condition as it floods extensively in rainy weather, while it becomes a dust bowl when it’s hot and dry. The additional revenue from the price increase could be put to use smoothing things out, literally.

You would expect that Centro would see an increase in ridership for State Fair shuttles, but their current driver shortage may strain the process, negating any possible benefit. The Hound still thinks rail service would be a terrific option (Slow Roll, 9/15/19), but it doesn’t seem to be in the plans.

When you come down to it, increases in fees for vendors and exhibitors will likely have the most impact on enjoyment of the Fair as some businesses may not return, deciding the cost is too high, while others will hike prices for Fair customers.

Nap Time

The 2022 New York State Fair was something of a reunion for those who present the Fair and those who attend, with many–though certainly not all–popular vendors and exhibitors back and fans coming out in good-enough numbers to call it a successful return to almost normal. SD 2

Highlights included the fascinating World of Horses barn, the poolside antics of Sea Lion Splash, the daring Highlight Pro Women’s Skydiving Team, the return of most livestock and a sprinkling of good concerts in an overall drab lineup.

Familiar favorites included the historic and exciting Iroquois Village, five parades down Broadway, a somewhat less-elaborate-than-usual sand sculpture, the fantastic Hawk Creek Birds of Prey show, Circus Hollywood and the inimitable Hilby. Throw in the Strolling Piano, Bandoloni, a timely butter sculpture, magician Steve Trash and Mighty Mike and no one could say they didn’t get their three bucks worth.

Tours of the Agriculture Museum and State Fair History Exhibit never get old. The highly-touted NYS Energy exhibit and the Skilled Trades and the Manufacturing display lacked Fairworthy dazzle, but made use of large building space while appealing to a limited segment of visitors. Talent Showcase, model trains and 4-H horse competitions were missed.

Mostly-decent, though widely varied, weather conditions and generally well-controlled traffic made attending easy. TIRED CALFSome prices were higher, reflecting the trend outside the Fairgrounds, but some were consistent with past years. Great food and and drink never disappoints.

Overall, Sean Hennessey’s first Fair at the helm was a triumph and a tribute to the impressive team that stages New York’s greatest event year-after-year.

There’s much more to say in review and plenty of ideas for the future–all coming up in future posts on State Fair Hound. But first, we all need some rest.

Lotto Nonsense

You may have seen on the NewsChannel 9 website that some patrons of the New York State Fair are complaining that lottery tickets haven’t been sold at the Fair this year.

SAY MOOIt’s hard to believe that buying Lotto tickets is such a vital part of the Fair experience for some visitors. Come on, folks–you can get your gambling fix at thousands of locations any day of the year. Until then, scroll through our posts here on State Fair Hound, study the Fair website or just pick up a free visitors’ map at any gate in order to find a hundred ways to enjoy the Fair.

You can buy Lotto the next time you go out to the supermarket or convenience store near home. For now, just spend your cash on fried dough or a ride on the SkyLiner. That way you’re guaranteed to get something for your money.

Skim Scam

A few days ago Newschannel 9 reported that several customers at a recent Amphitheater concert were victimized when the credit cards they used for purchases at a show were used to make fraudulent charges.

ENTERINGThe no-cash policy becoming common at event venues, including our beloved Fair, doesn’t only inconvenience patrons and discriminate against people who lack the means to carry a credit card, it also presents additional and unnecessary security risks.

Unless the governor and her team come to their senses, this will be the second State Fair that refuses to accept cash to purchase admission tickets or pay for parking. Apparently it’s advantageous for the state, but it’s not for the rest of us. It was only a matter of time until criminals found a way to take advantage of the proliferation of plastic money flashing around the grounds to steal from patrons and their banks.

What could be simpler–or safer–than pulling into a Fair parking lot and handing the attendant a five-dollar bill? It’s clearly time to reverse this ridiculous policy and let money do the talking at the Fair.

Silent Spring

Planning for the 2022 New York State Fair is underway–at least it should be. It’s hard to say what’s really happening  as there has been no recent press release and none of Kathy Hochul’s underlings are saying anything.

The first performer booked to play a major stage show, the Art of Rap, was announced on Dec. 6. A steady stream of scheduled acts followed, a total of 15 shows, the most recent being City Girls, announced April 1. COURT CROWDSince then there has not been an act announced or anything else coming from the Fair, unless you count vague responses to questions about the baffling situation that led to the departure of  a successful, dedicated and popular Fair Director, Troy Waffner.

At this point, we should have been given most of the itinerary for the Chevrolet Concert Series. We should also be hearing about all of the food, fun and entertainment to which we can look forward with less than 11 weeks to go. State Fair Hound contacted the Fair a few days ago to ask what’s going on and to request an honest, reasonable explanation for Waffner leaving while a newcomer with no apparent fair experience comes in to run the Fair this year. There has been no reply.

NewsChannel 9 reporter Andrew Donovan reported that a Fair spokesperson–it’s likely that it was Dave Bullard, but he wasn’t named–said that Troy is “fine.”AG CUP We hope that’s true. Since Troy has taken another job with Agriculture and Markets, it seems reasonable to assume that it is. So what happened and will anyone tell the people of New York to whom the State Fair belongs?

Longtime Fair fans can’t help but be reminded of 1995, George Pataki’s first Fair as Governor, when he made the moronic and completely political decision to replace Director Wayne Gallagher, a consummate professional and one of the best directors ever. The first potential director considered to replace Gallagher–a political appointee with little to qualify him (sound familiar?) was ultimately withdrawn and local businessman Peter Cappuccilli, Jr. served a one-year apprenticeship as Gallagher’s assistant director before becoming an excellent director in his own right.

Now, Gov. Hochul lives down to Pataki’s standards in belatedly naming a questionable, though temporary, replacement to a first-rate director while she offers no reasonable explanation. Meanwhile, it’s been 10 weeks since the Fair announced a concert or anything else about the 2022 edition.

This is unacceptable and completely avoidable. FROM OT2 18All the Gov had to do is concentrate on other pressing issues, stay the hell out of the way and allow Waffner to run the Fair. A recent editorial in the Post-Standard and syracuse.com said “Take politics out of the State Fair: Hire a professional to run it.” In fact Waffner, though he may have benefited from political connections in first being hired, had become as good a pro as we could find anywhere.

But he’s gone and the silence from the State Fair administration is deafening.

Who’s The Boss?

State Fair Hound recently sent an inquiry to the New York State Fair asking why it has been over a month since the most recent announcement of an act being added to the Fair lineup. We hadn’t received a reply when NewsChannel 9 on Wednesday reported the shocking news that Director Troy Waffner no longer holds that post. Channel 9 reported that Waffner had been on leave from his job as director for about eight weeks.

TROY WITH ANDREW 18No explanation has been revealed by the Governor’s office, though syracuse.com reported that “Several vendors and other sources familiar with the State Fair have told syracuse.com that Waffner has seemed to be under pressure to drive harder bargains on fees and related deals with vendors, especially those who book fairgrounds space outside the actual duration of the fair itself.”

So it sounds like Waffner was removed by the Governor due to policy changes and perhaps disagreement about how the Fair should conduct its business. But Gov. Hopeful clearly has a lot to learn about the New York State Fair, especially if she thinks that a replacement or interim director can slide into the job fewer than 100 days prior to opening day and have no problem. Waffner is a real pro with substantial experience and expertise that is essential to meet the substantial demands of the job.

For this year, Sean Hennessey, an assistant commissioner with the state Department of Transportation, will direct the Fair. Prior to his appointment to DOT in December of 2015, Hennessey had been a state regional building supervisor and a commissioner of elections for Jefferson County, but it doesn’t look like he has experience that would lend itself to managing the Fair.

Yikes.

Is the Gov going to provide any further information on why this change is being made and especially, why it’s being made now? If she was dissatisfied with Waffner, she could have replaced him months ago, but since she didn’t it seems only logical that she would keep him on for this year rather than bring in an unproven replacement. Troy isn’t in a position to disclose any grievance he may have since he will remain employed by Ag and Markets, but we strongly suspect that he’s not happy with the events.

Three months from now, the State Fair will be underway. Although Fair spokesman Dave Bullard gave Channel 9 a positive spin, we’re not buying it. CMON INThose of us who love our Fair have every reason to be apprehensive about how it will go. We hope that Hennessey will have the good sense to lean heavily on the unsung staff members who work diligently every year to make the Fair great.

But this change, at this time may indicate that he will instead be beholden to politicians and bureaucrats who try to manipulate the Fair from Albany. Gov. Hopeful has the authority to do that, but she has to be willing to accept the consequences for failures and problems it causes. She’s already given us reason to doubt her judgment and competence with this ill-advised, poorly-timed move.

State Fair Hound wishes Troy Waffner the best. He was a top-notch director and a class guy who deserves better than this.

We’re still waiting for more announcements on what we’ll see at the Fair while wondering what else hasn’t been done during this transition and how the Fair will be affected. It’s a scary time for Fair fans.

 

Who Discovered America?

Centuries prior to the "discovery" of this continent, great civilizations stretched from coast to coast. The desendents of the original People of the Longhouse welcome thousands of visitors to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) village every year during the New York State Fair.

Centuries prior to the “discovery” of this continent, great civilizations stretched from coast to coast. The descendants of the original People of the Longhouse welcome thousands of visitors to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) village every year during the New York State Fair.

A Walk in the Park

While the 2021 New York State Fair had its highs and lows, the big stage in the wide-open prairie at the western end of the grounds–recently renamed Chevy Park–really came into its own as a concert venue. CP CROWDThe huge crowds that gathered near the pond for shows  during this year’s Fair demonstrated that the massive, slightly sloping lawn can provide a satisfying experience for tens of thousands of fans.

There were a few food vendors nearby, but expansion of amenities is both likely and necessary as the development of the site moves forward. Great things should be expected in the future for that venue, but there a few questions to ponder.

First, isn’t the burgeoning potential at Chevy Park proof that a state-of-the-art concert venue should have been built there as a permanent part of the Fairgrounds? The poorly-conceived and sadly mismanaged Lakeview Amphitheater continues to disappoint fans and interfere with State Fair events from its toxic waste bed site. Really, have you ever heard and read as many complaints and criticisms of a concert setting in local media?

If the venue was where it should be–the site of Chevy Park–it would support the State Fair by thrilling fans and providing patronage to vendors while lighting up the proverbial marquee with illustrious names. Sure, the park does those things now, but a well-run, ticketed venue of that size could book top acts that are financially impossible in the current free format. We would only hope that the promoter would do a better job than what’s happening at the amp. CP POND

But we’re stuck with Randy Andy’s dumb decision, so the focus now should be maximizing the Chevy Park experience. It all starts with the stage and planners should be considering whether a permanent stage should be constructed on that site.

The stage that was used this year was nicely done, but it was built just for the Fair only to be dismantled after Labor Day. Thus, absent the construction of a year-round stage there, another temporary structure will be necessary for the 2022 Fair. That could be workable as it was for decades with the grandstand stage, but it seems reasonable that the one-time erection of something permanent would be more cost effective over the long run.

Such a move would allow for three seasons of shows there, remembering that consideration of stage orientation would be necessary as as fans currently face west into the setting sun. With most late August Fair concerts starting at 8 p.m., the sun is nearly out of sight before the music starts, but earlier in the summer it would be a problem.

MAVS FANSSuch a permanent venue would be great spot for large music festivals and multi-day events. There would need to be serious discussion of how it would conflict with the amp as there are certainly similarities between the two venues. There are also significant differences as the Fairgrounds offers use of the nearby camping facilities and possibly some of the Fairgrounds’ other services, such as food stands, vendor space and maybe even the Chevy Court site.

Even if such an undertaking never happens, Fair music fans should be excited about the future of Chevy Park, especially in concert (pun intended) with Chevy Court.

 

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