Exclusive: PNE day-by-day attendance revealed

The Pacific National Exhibition's 2013 Fair -- its 103rd to date -- was not marred by weather, but instead power outages at Hastings Park on the middle Saturday and the last Thursday. In fact, those were two of the worst days for attendance at the Aug. 17-Sept. 2 Fair, according to statistics that are  published below for the first time.

What you already knew: The grand total over 15 days was 712,049, a decrease from the 763,689 a year earlier (when the fair was 17 days long) and far short of the 800,000 goal set by organizers. (By comparison, the centennial fair in 2010 drew 937,485.) PNE vice-president of finance Roger Gil told me gate revenue has not been reconciled, but will be reported to the board of directors for its next meeting. (PNE board meetings are held behind closed doors, despite it being a public body.)

What you didn't know: A power outage delayed the opening of gates on Aug. 24 so the attendance for the middle Saturday of the Fair -- traditionally one of the biggest days -- was a disappointing 48,874. Another power outage happened in the evening on Aug. 29. The day's weather was mixed -- partly cloudy, sometimes rainy -- but only 26,363 came through the turnstiles. That was the worst-attended day of the entire Fair. Organizers were hoping for more because Aug. 29 was the day Vancity credit union debit and credit cardholders were admitted for $5 each.

The best-attended day was the third day -- Tues. Aug. 20 -- with 76,902 fairgoers. Why was that? Well, Port Metro Vancouver sponsored free admission to all comers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There was also a free two-hour promotion on Aug. 27, to make-good for the Aug. 24 power outage. That Tuesday's total  was 64,580.

Tickets and parking at the 2013 Fair were both cut from $20 to $16 each and kids under 13 were free. The touring Chinggis Khan exhibition, the only brand, new marquee attraction at the Fair, was an extra $3. There was no price break at the gates during the middle weekend of the civic fair, which was in competition with the free admission, civic-sponsored 125th anniversary of Stanley Park. The PNE drew 48,874 on Aug. 24 and 53,048 on Aug. 25. It is not known how much the free festival at Stanley Park impacted the PNE's revenues, but it certainly was not a business-wise move by the Vision Vancouver-dominated city council. The true anniversary of Stanley Park could have been observed on Sept. 27, the date it was opened in 1888.

The PNE fairgrounds were closed on Aug. 19 and 26 to cut costs.

Next year's fair runs Aug. 16-Sept. 1, 2014.

Day	Date	Attendance
Saturday	August 17, 2013	29,976
Sunday	August 18, 2013	31,129
Monday	August 19, 2013	0
Tuesday	August 20, 2013	76,902
Wednesday	August 21, 2013	36,039
Thursday	August 22, 2013	36,594
Friday	August 23, 2013	45,547
Saturday	August 24, 2013	48,874
Sunday	August 25, 2013	53,048
Monday	August 26, 2013	0
Tuesday	August 27, 2013	64,580
Wednesday	August 28, 2013	33,499
Thursday	August 29, 2013	26,363
Friday	August 30, 2013	41,126
Saturday	August 31, 2013	66,222
Sunday	September 1, 2013	67,588
Monday	September 2, 2013	54,562

TOTAL

712,049

What do you love or hate about Vancouver's annual PNE Fair? Did you go to the 2013 Fair? Leave your comments below or email me here.

Hey, Ray! Waddaya say?

Open Letter to Coun. Raymond Louie (Chairman, Pacific National Exhibition):

Hope you’re having a fun and relaxing summer. Certainly you’ll be having fun at the 103rd Pacific National Exhibition Fair until Labour Day. Glad that gate admission and parking are cheaper by 20%, so more people can afford to go. It's not often that Vision Vancouver gives vehicle drivers a discount.

Sorry to hear that it’ll be closed on the first and second Mondays, but let’s hope those are the only days that rain falls in East Vancouver. 

This will be the fifth fair since Mayor Gregor Robertson and the rest of your Vision Vancouver majority mates decided to install you as the chairman of the PNE board. A controversial decision from May 2009.

On Aug. 1, city council voted 8-2 to refine the governance model for Hastings Park and the PNE. You voted in the majority. It seems like a Vancouver pastime to debate the governance of the PNE. Council opted not to make Hastings Park and the PNE a department of city hall or shift responsibility for governance to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation -- even though the Park Board said it was ready, willing and able. Citizens groups (like the Hastings Park Conservancy and Friends of Hastings Park) wanted the Park Board to take over, but it won't. So you’ll be chairman for the foreseeable future. 

I emailed you a couple of questions on Aug. 1 and called your office and left a voice mail the next day. I haven’t heard back from you about your role in that governance decision. You were in the council chamber, participated in the discussion and voted. 

Minutes of the meeting show that you moved the motion on the staff recommendation:

Chairman Ray

A. THAT Council adopt the implementation plan outlined in the Administrative Report dated June 18, 2013, entitled “Hastings Park/PNE Governance Review”, for a new governance structure for Hastings Park and the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE). 

B. THAT Council approve funding for consultants, needed to support and resource the implementation plan set out in the Administrative Report dated June 18, 2013, entitled “Hastings Park/PNE Governance Review”, to a maximum of $80,000; source of funding to be the Hastings Park Reserve.

You voted with the majority against Green Coun. Adriane Carr’s amendments, including one that proposed giving Park Board the reins of power. Ultimately, you also voted with the majority to adopt the staff recommendation. It was passed by an 8-2 margin. You remain the PNE chairman.

I notice that the Vancouver Charter, which is the provincial law that governs the City of Vancouver, contains sections 145.2 (Disclosure of conflict) and 145.3 (Restrictions on participation if in conflict). 

In a nutshell, the charter says a council member must declare any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter or another interest in a matter that constitutes a conflict of interest. He or she must leave the meeting while the matter is under consideration, and not participate in any discussion, vote or otherwise attempt in any way to influence the vote. 

Since you are both an elected councillor and the appointed chair of the PNE, did you ask for or receive legal advice from the city solicitor that allowed you to participate and vote? If so, what was the conclusion? The minutes don’t reflect that you made a declaration of your PNE chairmanship and you certainly didn't leave the council chamber. 

Neither city clerk Janice MacKenzie nor city solicitor Francie Connell responded to my query earlier this month. I’m hoping you will. I’d gladly publish it here. 

Sincerely,

Bob Mackin

P.S. I notice the 2011 annual report is on the PNE website, but where is the 2012 annual report? We're well past the halfway point of 2013.