4800 U.S. Highway 301 North
Tampa, FL 33610
Phone (813) 621-7821             Fax (813) 740-3505             http://www.floridastatefair.com/

[NEWS RELEASE] TAMPA, FL. — March 25, 2008.   The Florida State Fair reports a successful year as the curtain closes on the 2008 Florida State Fair - “It’s Showtime, Baby!”  The audited attendance figures from the Office of the Inspector General for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services indicate 490,513 people visited the 2008 Florida State Fair through its 12-day run.  This is a 7% increase in attendance from the prior year.

State Fair officials believe the overall increase in attendance is a direct result of new, superior headline entertainment and improved weather conditions from the prior year.  “We were extremely pleased with the response from fairgoers on the headline entertainment this year.  The Las Vegas revue show and the Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator National Finals played to packed crowds in the Sweetbay Entertainment Hall,” said Fair Authority Executive Director Chuck Pesano.  “Additionally, we experimented with other new ideas including a Hispanic Village which was well received by visitors.  It was even recognized in a letter by Senator Mel Martinez to the Fair Authority for its accomplishments in recognizing the growing Hispanic population in Florida!”

The best attendance day was Sunday, February 10 with 75,930 people, followed by the first student day on Friday, February 8 with 75,910 people.  Attendance on the first student day increased 20% from the prior year.  This can be largely attributed to the free admission vouchers provided to students of Hillsborough County Schools who benefited from a collaborative effort between the Hillsborough County School Board and the Fair Authority who presented a Student Day rally on that Friday.  The 2008 Florida State Fair also posted the highest grossing Midway revenues in official fair history totaling $3,919,469 during its 12-day run; and the highest grossing single day ever in Midway revenues at $862,247 for Friday, February 8.

The Florida State Fair is one of only a few state fairs that maintain audited procedures for documenting daily gate attendance and gate admission revenue.  Gate attendance figures for the Florida State Fair include paid and complimentary admissions, participants in competitions and special events.  Employees, food concessionaires, and commercial exhibitors are issued an I.D. badge and are not counted towards the daily attendance figures.  The Office of the Inspector General for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has overseen the audit of the Florida State Fair since 1996.

The following figures illustrate some of the 2008 Florida State Fair’s success:

• Number of armbands redeemed for Midway rides: 92,657 armbands
• Number of admission tickets redeemed that were purchased at Sweetbay Supermarkets: 51,339
• Number of students that received discounted admission on the two Student Days: 9,400
• Number of student vouchers redeemed for free admission by Hillsborough County Public School students: 29,645
• Number of 4-H & FFA members that enjoyed free gate admission on 4-H & FFA Days: 2,837
• Number of underprivileged children entertained on Shriner’s Day: 3,403.  Children enjoyed the Fair for free courtesy of the Fair Authority.  Hot dogs, popcorn, and ice-cold soft drinks were donated courtesy of Rusty Groscurth, Ron Netterfield, Richie George of George’s Fun Foods, Savoy Food Concessions, Butterkrust Bakery and Boston Culinary Group.

The Top 5 Rides ranked by gross dollars

• # 1 Sky Glider (owner: Sky Fair)
• # 2 Super Slide (owner: Florida State Fair)
• # 3 "Hydro Shock" Roller Coaster (Owner: Wade Shows)
• # 4 Himalaya - Hit in 2000 (Owner: Wade Shows)
• # 5 Wheel - Giant Gondola (Owner: Wade Shows)

Winners of the Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator National Finals

• First Place and Overall winner: Vic Trevino from Dallas, TX
• Best Sound a Like: Erock Haws from Buckner, MO
• Best Look a Like: TIE between Doug Church (Mishawaka, IN) and Brian Brenner (Dayton, OH)

Winners of the 2008 Florida State Roller Derby Champions

• First Place: Tampa Tantrums Rollergirls
• Second Place: Tallahassee Rollergirls Capital Punishment
• Third Place: Molly Rogers Rollergirls (Brevard county)

Agriculture Facts

• Number of calves born in the Mooternity Ward during the Fair: 17 calves
• Number of 4-H & FFA student members that entered their animal projects: 1,061
• Number of elementary students that visited the Agriculture Educational Showcase: 2,283
• Amount of money raised for the Fair Authority’s youth livestock programs from the autographed guitar auctioned at the 2008 Country Gold Tour concert: $1,500
• Number of Livestock participants that attended the Fair: 11,014
• Champion of Champions winner: Staci Reed from Lithia, FL
• Youth Poultry Rooster Crowing Contest winner: Kayla Cole from Wimauma, FL 
• Hay Bale Decorating Contest winner: Circle R Dog-Gone Crazy, 4-H Club from Riverview, FL

Other Fair Facts

• Total value of U.S. savings bonds awarded to elementary students in the Florida Lottery Writing and Illustration Contest: $10,000
• Number of visitors on School Group Field Trips that came to the Fair: 2,799
• Number of Horse Show participants that attended the Fair: 3,181 participants
• Number of participants in the Cheer and Dance Championships: 4,085 participants
• Number of exhibitor entries in the Florida Living Competitions: 3,712
• Number of entries in the International Wine and Grape Juice Competition: 1,628 total entries, 114 international wines, 89 Florida wines, and 203 amateur entries 
• Number of High School Art entries displayed: 235
• Number of participants in the Square Dancing Competition: 250 participants
• Number of participants in the Ballroom Dancing Competition: 220 participants
• Number of bands in the High School Jazz Competition: 32 bands and approximately 800 participants
• Number of participants in the Baton Twirling Championships: 250 participants
• Number of applications processed for Fair seasonal employment: 877
• Number of people employed by the Fair for seasonal work: 336
• Number of Fair volunteers: 210
• Number of hours worked by Fair volunteers: 12,458
• Number of year-round, permanent full-time and part-time Fair Authority employees: 72  

The 105th annual Florida State Fair will take place on February 5-16, 2009.  The Florida State Fair – always in Tampa and always in February – is organized by the Florida State Fair Authority under the leadership of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson leads the Fair Authority, which oversees the Florida State Fairgrounds and the annual Florida State Fair. For more information about the 2009 Florida State Fair, call toll-free (800) 345-FAIR or (813) 621-7821, visit http://www.floridastatefair.com/ or http://myspace.com/floridastatefair.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Denise Shreaves: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Manager of Marketing & Public Relations
Florida State Fair Authority
Office Number (813) 627-4314 or Cell Number (813) 732-0141