Festivals & Events in Metro Vancouver - Page 3

Changing City · #41 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chowhou

200k sounds really high to me, that's 550 per day. If the average ticket is around $8 to $10 that's almost $2 million in yearly revenue. Unless they're really screwing up that sounds like a profit maker.

It's only available about eight months of the year, so your per day calculation is wrong. There's a lot of work involved in setting up and putting the displays for the various themes during the year, and replacing or repairing display elements, as well as staffing the train and ticket sales. And while the Christmas and Haloween train tickets are close to $10 each, the unthemed summer train costs $15 for a family of four, so it won't be as high as $2m in income.

whatnext · #42 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 2:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chowhou

200k sounds really high to me, that's 550 per day. If the average ticket is around $8 to $10 that's almost $2 million in yearly revenue. Unless they're really screwing up that sounds like a profit maker.

This is a group that threw away $2 million in parking revenue so why is it surprising?

WarrenC12 · #43 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

200k visitors a year. Before the lockdown, the PNE (also seasonal) got 732k, and Science World and the Aquarium got a million each. Evidently not the most popular attraction in the metro.

Not sure if that's an indication of popularity, or of a lack of things to do in Vancouver during the winter break.

You're comparing the trains to the huge PNE and the always-open Science World?

It's very popular. You don't have to like it. Both of those things are true.

whatnext · #44 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 4:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

You're comparing the trains to the huge PNE and the always-open Science World?

It's very popular. You don't have to like it. Both of those things are true.

200k is pretty decent. I don't think the art gallery gets that kind of yearly attendance.

chowhou · #45 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changing City

It's only available about eight months of the year, so your per day calculation is wrong. There's a lot of work involved in setting up and putting the displays for the various themes during the year, and replacing or repairing display elements, as well as staffing the train and ticket sales. And while the Christmas and Haloween train tickets are close to $10 each, the unthemed summer train costs $15 for a family of four, so it won't be as high as $2m in income.

All just back of the envelope calculations.

I would guess the ridership numbers increase massively during the Christmas and Halloween events and given the higher prices during these events I'd still stick to the under $2 million in revenue. I never said income, obviously there are running costs, but I find it very hard to believe they're burning even over a million on the train every year.

WarrenC12 · #46 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 5:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chowhou

All just back of the envelope calculations.

I would guess the ridership numbers increase massively during the Christmas and Halloween events and given the higher prices during these event I'd still stick to the under $2 million in revenue. I never said income, obviously there are running costs, but I find it very hard to believe they're burning even over a million on the train every year.

That's just ticket sales. There are vendors there (mostly food) with big lineups.

Migrant_Coconut · #47 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 5:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

You're comparing the trains to the huge PNE and the always-open Science World?

It's very popular. You don't have to like it. Both of those things are true.

Open ~2/3rds of the year... only gets as much traffic as the Aldergrove Zoo. If that's "very popular," we'll have to agree to disagree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

200k is pretty decent. I don't think the art gallery gets that kind of yearly attendance.

Surprisingly, the Art Gallery got about 500-600k before the lockdown.

Changing City · #48 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chowhou

All just back of the envelope calculations.

I would guess the ridership numbers increase massively during the Christmas and Halloween events and given the higher prices during these events I'd still stick to the under $2 million in revenue. I never said income, obviously there are running costs, but I find it very hard to believe they're burning even over a million on the train every year.

The 2022 budget (which won't be achieved because the Haloween train can't run because it failed the safety inspection) anticipated $2m in revenue from all sources, and $1.5m in expenditure. In 2021 it only had $200K income and $700K expenditure, so operated at a loss, but that was covid.

chowhou · #49 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 6:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changing City

The 2022 budget (which won't be achieved because the Haloween train can't run because it failed the safety inspection) anticipated $2m in revenue from all sources, and $1.5m in expenditure. In 2021 it only had $200K income and $700K expenditure, so operated at a loss, but that was covid.

Can I get a source? I'm not doubting you, I looked for the 2022 Parks Board budget and I couldn't find it.

Changing City · #50 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 6:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chowhou

Can I get a source? I'm not doubting you, I looked for the 2022 Parks Board budget and I couldn't find it.

Even DuckDuckGo found it. $2.15m income, $1.46m expenditure.

whatnext · #51 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Open ~2/3rds of the year... only gets as much traffic as the Aldergrove Zoo. If that's "very popular," we'll have to agree to disagree.

Surprisingly, the Art Gallery got about 500-600k before the lockdown.

Interesting. You gotta love how they interpret tourism attarction for some of those on the list. 1.1 visitors to the Richmond Oval? Sure there's a small museum but most of those people were going to use it as a community centre.

chowhou · #52 Posted **Sep 23, 2022, 6:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changing City

Even DuckDuckGo found it. $2.15m income, $1.46m expenditure.

Interesting, if I use DDG I'm able to find it but Google wasn't able to find this. Thanks for taking the time to provide it non-condescendingly.

Budgeted for even more than the $2 million revenue I expected then. Running costs are a lot higher than I thought, but looks like it's still a profit maker when running smoothly. Case closed.

whatnext · #53 Posted **Nov 1, 2022, 6:37 PM**

Because apparently it isn't considered "fun" by Council unless it involves binge drinking and vomiting on Granville Street:

Santa Claus isn't coming to town. Vancouver parade cancelled for 3rd straight year
Organizers say they were unable to secure a title sponsor to cover costs
The Canadian Press · Posted: Oct 31, 2022

The Santa Claus Parade in downtown Vancouver has been cancelled for a third straight year, but this time COVID-19 isn't playing the Grinch.

The Vancouver Santa Claus Parade Society, in an online statement, said it was unable to secure a title sponsor to defray costs in time for the event, usually held at the start of December.

The society says it's putting the parade on hiatus again "with a great deal of regret" after the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of pandemic precautions....

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c...ouver-cancelled-for-third-year-1.6636165

Funny that given their office footprint you'd think Amazon or Microsoft would be an upstanding local corporate citizen who'd be interested in funding this kind of stuff...

Changing City · #54 Posted **Nov 1, 2022, 7:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

Because apparently it isn't considered "fun" by Council unless it involves binge drinking and vomiting on Granville Street:

Santa Claus isn't coming to town. Vancouver parade cancelled for 3rd straight year
Organizers say they were unable to secure a title sponsor to cover costs
The Canadian Press · Posted: Oct 31, 2022

The Santa Claus Parade in downtown Vancouver has been cancelled for a third straight year, but this time COVID-19 isn't playing the Grinch.

The Vancouver Santa Claus Parade Society, in an online statement, said it was unable to secure a title sponsor to defray costs in time for the event, usually held at the start of December.

The society says it's putting the parade on hiatus again "with a great deal of regret" after the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of pandemic precautions....

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c...ouver-cancelled-for-third-year-1.6636165

Funny that given their office footprint you'd think Amazon or Microsoft would be an upstanding local corporate citizen who'd be interested in funding this kind of stuff...

Council have never organized this - it was always corporate. If Council did fund it, there would be comments whining about how much they're wasting on it. It only started in 2004, and the last few years it happened, Telus backed it. Before that it was the Rogers Santa Claus Parade.

chowhou · #55 Posted **Nov 1, 2022, 7:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changing City

Council have never organized this - it was always corporate. If Council did fund it, there would be comments whining about how much they're wasting on it. It only started in 2004, and the last few years it happened, Telus backed it. Before that it was the Rogers Santa Claus Parade.

Rogers could use some good will right now with the Shaw acquisition attempt, wonder if they'll step back up?

GenWhy? · #56 Posted **Nov 1, 2022, 7:18 PM**

Surprised they want to go with a street closure instead of a plaza event. Volunteering for Car Free Day the actual closure aspect is super expensive

Vin · #57 Posted **Nov 1, 2022, 7:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changing City

Council have never organized this - it was always corporate. If Council did fund it, there would be comments whining about how much they're wasting on it. It only started in 2004, and the last few years it happened, Telus backed it. Before that it was the Rogers Santa Claus Parade.

No, with restrictions on how our city, especially our downtown is constructed, combined with the anti-business environment, we are not getting enough big companies headquartered here, and hence very little participation from the little we have. Hence other cities get yearly sponsorship of events, whereas ours is pretty dismal. We all know Council has no money to fund or fix anything, so let's not pretend they area able to. Perhaps in the future CAC money should also go into festive event allocations?

Vancouver truly was a much better city when it comes to cultural and urban entertainment. Same goes for the provincial capital Victoria. The only comforting thought is that suburb municipalities are starting to fill in this gap.