Committee cuts FGD concerts

No more concerts at Stratton Myers Park.

That’s the decision the Flaming Gorge Days Committee made as a result of declining ticket sales to the weekend concerts.

Scott Sager, the chairman of the committee, made the announcement Tuesday night while addressing the Green River City Council.

Sager said the concerts were a financial drain on the committee, being the most expensive events funded during the weekend. During the 2016 concerts, the committee struggled with selling tickets to the evening events.

Lisa Maes, who attended the Saturday concert, said she was shocked by the low number of people attending the concert. Sager said ticket sales help recoup costs associated with bringing musicians to the area, but with recent sales numbers, continued concerts at Stratton Myers will end.

While the concerts in Stratton Myers Park will end, the committee continues to plan for smaller-scale live music performances at Expedition Island.

The island, along with Evers Park, will continue to host popular events like the sports competitions and the Festival in the Park. Sager said they plan to expand the parade and events at the island and morph Flaming Gorge Days into a more family-friendly event, while attempting to support downtown Green River and the river corridor.

As a result of cutting the concerts, Sager said the committee doesn’t need as much financial support from the city and volunteered to return half of the $20,000 the city budgets for the committee each year.

“To do our part ... we looked at it and decided we only need $10,000,” Sager said.

Some positive aspects of the 2016 Flaming Gorge Days celebration included attendance records for Festival in the Park and the parade, zero driving under the influence arrests during the weekend and continued local support of many competitive events during the weekend.