Ahh, yes, Fall is here: The leaves are changing colors. There’s a gentle crisp in the evening air. Kids are talking costumes. And each night, for the next 10 days, if you bend your ear just so, you can hear rock, rap, gospel and country coming from the old concrete seats of the much-neglected Dorton Arena. That’s right, it’s N.C. State Fair time in Raleigh.
Each year, I love to look at the numbers for what the state spends on the talent it brings to Dorton Arena. Part of it is a longtime fascination with how much has-been rockers and country stars continue to get paid well past their prime, though I’ve also continued to argue that the state could spend this huge sum of money—this year, $420,000—in smarter ways to bring in a different type of talent and actually boost attendance across different demographics. (The Latino market, for instance, remains dreadfully underserved.) So far, that only gets me into arguments on Facebook, it seems.
This year, as a running addendum to our Wednesday piece detailing just what the state spent this year, we’ll publish the number of tickets sold to each previous night’s show, as well as the money made or lost through those sales. Check back at this link for the information.
Thursday, Oct. 16: Vanilla Ice
Guaranteed: $22,500
Ticket Price: $5
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 4,500
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 4,016
Profit or Loss: Loss of $2,420.
Friday, Oct. 17: Tamela Mann
Guaranteed: $42,500
Ticket Price: $10
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 4,250
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 4,768
Profit or Loss: Profit of $5,180.
Saturday, Oct. 18: Clay Walker
Guaranteed: $50,000
Ticket Price: $12
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 4,167
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 2,268
Profit or Loss: Loss of $22,784.
Sunday, Oct. 19: Parmalee
Guaranteed: $25,000
Ticket Price: $10
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 2,500
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 3,054
Profit or Loss: Profit of $5,540.
Monday, Oct. 20: Love and Theft
Guaranteed: $25,000
Ticket Price: $10
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 2,500
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 934
Profit or Loss: Loss of $15,660.
Tuesday, Oct. 21: James Gregory
Guaranteed: $14,000
Ticket Price: $5
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 2,800
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 926
Profit or Loss: Loss of $9,370.
Wednesday, Oct. 22: Brandy Clark
Guaranteed: $15,000
Ticket Price: $5
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 3,000
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 563
Profit or Loss: Loss of $12,185.
Thursday, Oct. 23: McClain and Before you Exit
Guaranteed: $40,000
Ticket Price: $10
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 4,000
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 1,323
Profit or Loss: Loss of $26,770.
Friday, Oct. 24: Newsboys
Guaranteed: $45,000
Ticket Price: $10
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 4,500
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 5,138
Profit or Loss: Profit of $6,380.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Trace Adkins (with Aaron Parker)
Guaranteed: $76,000
Ticket Price: $17
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 4,471
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 4,002
Profit or Loss: Loss of $7,966.
Sunday, Oct. 26: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Guaranteed: $65,000
Ticket Price: $15
Number of Tickets Sold Necessary to Break Even: 4,334
Number of Tickets Actually Sold: 3,112
Profit or Loss: Loss of $18,320.
