Syracuse,
NY – March 2014 / Newsmaker Alert / Acting State Agriculture
Commissioner Richard A. Ball announces that Wade
Shows of Livonia, Michigan has been selected as the newest operator
of the Midway at the Great New York State
Fair. Wade was selected after an extensive Request for Proposals (RFP)
process that began in the summer of 2013. Wade takes over operations of
the Midway from James E. Strates Shows of Orlando, Florida.
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 “We
couldn’t be more excited about the new rides and attractions that Wade
Shows will bring to the Midway of the Great New York State Fair this year,”
Acting Commissioner Ball said. “The theme of this year’s Fair is ‘Summer’s
Best in Show’ and we are clearly starting off on the right foot. Over the
years, this company has gained a deserved reputation for increasing both
revenue and attendance at agricultural fairs, while providing a superior
entertainment product for Fairgoers. We greatly look forward to this new
era at the Fair, which we believe will be exciting for the thousands of
visitors who come to this mecca of upstate tourism every year.”
Acting Commissioner Ball
continued, “I’d also like to thank James E. Strates Shows for creating
a lifetime of memories for Fairgoers over the past seven plus decades.
Your friendship to The Fair and your contributions to building and promoting
tourism in Upstate New York will never be forgotten.”
Wade Shows provides Midway
attractions for more state fairs than any other operator in the United
States, including some of the most highly attended agricultural fairs in
the country, such as the Tulsa State Fair, the Florida State Fair, the
North Carolina State Fair, the South Florida Fair, the San Antonio Livestock
Show and Rodeo, and the Oklahoma State Fair.
Wade Shows is strongly committed
to the safety of Fairgoers and has a proactive ride safety program. Employees
are trained to conduct independent daily ride inspections in cooperation
with a third party safety inspector. Employees are also trained in ride
conduct, and they, in partnership with the third party safety inspector,
will work in partnership with the Division of Safety and Health staff from
the New York State Department of Labor during the 2014 Fair. Staff at Wade
are also trained in loading and unloading rides efficiently to ensure lines
move smoothly.
“Showcase NY” will be on
full display throughout the Midway, complete with New York State-themed
rides, games and foods. Wade Shows has demonstrated its intentions to improve
the appearance of the Midway at the 2014 Fair, from utilizing plants from
local landscapers to a consistent look and feel throughout the Midway.
At least 63 new rides, 25
food stands, 70 games, and 25 novelty and other sales booths will be coming
to the 2014 Fair on what will likely be an expanded Midway. Many of these
rides have never been to New York before, including at least one of the
two largest portable roller coasters in the country, which will be coming
in 2014.
All Wade Shows staff travel
with the show and will be on site at the 2014 Great New York State Fair
for all 12 days, including President and CEO Frank Zaitshik as well as
a General Unit Manager, Co-Operations Manager, Concession Manager, Ride
Manager, Safety Manager, E-ticketing manager, and Midway Beautification
Manager. Many staff members have been part of the Wade Shows team for more
than three decades.
Wade Shows will implement
the FUNCARD e-ticketing system used at previous New York State Fairs. The
company will provide wristband discount pricing every day of the Fair,
along with advance sales of wristbands in an effort to save Fairgoers money.
A few other details for
the Fairgoing public:
-
Wade Shows food stands cook
only with trans-fat free oils. Gluten-free stands will also be available
on the Midway.
-
Misting stations will be located
throughout the Midway to allow Fairgoers to cool off on hot days.
-
Wade Shows will be bringing
over 100 benches and picnic tables to the Midway, complete with shelter
from the sun and rain.
An RFP was issued last year
by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets seeking proposals
for a 10 year contract to operate the Midway at the Great New York State
Fair. Three bidders went through the complete RFP process, outlining their
work histories, safety and inspection processes, operations, pricing, proposed
rides, games, concessions, references, and more. In-person presentations
from the three bidders were conducted on March 5, 2014. Wade Shows was
the winner of the RFP and was informed March 12th.
For more information about
Wade Shows, please visit: www.wadeshows.com.
The Great New York State
Fair, operated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets,
runs from August 21 – September 1, 2014. The Fair’s mission, reflected
in its 2014 theme, “Summer’s Best in Show,” is to showcase the best of
New York agriculture while providing top-quality entertainment.
In addition to the annual
New York State Fair, the Fairgrounds host dozens of agricultural events
throughout the year, including some of the Northeast’s most prestigious
horse and livestock shows.
The home of the Great New
York State Fair is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates
all year. A year-round schedule of events is available on the Fair’s
website. Find The Great
New York State Fair on Facebook, follow @NYSFair
on Twitter, and enjoy photos from the Fair at Flickr.com/photos/NYSFair.
Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York
State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.
Media Contacts:
Joe
Morrissey
Public Information Officer
NYS Department of Agriculture
& Markets
518-457-0752
Dave
Bullard
Public Relations
New York State Fair
315-487-7711 x 1377 |
