South Tahoe giving people a reason to visit New Year’s Eve
By Kathryn Reed
This New Year’s Eve there will be more to do on the South Shore than standing around in the cold getting drunk at Stateline.
Lake Tahoe Community College board of trustees on Tuesday unanimously agreed to partner with South Lake Tahoe to bring Snowball Music Fest to the campus as well as the neighboring joint use ball field.
Nancy Kerry from the city gave an overview to the board Aug. 9 about a similar event put on by Chad Donnelly at Avon, near Vail. She was in Colorado to witness three stages filled with bands, a sea of people in their 20s not minding the cold or the fact it was snowing, and a town appreciative of the revenue it brought it. (Avon is at the base of Beaver Creek ski resort.)
South Lake Tahoe is importing a Colorado concert concept for New Year's Eve. Photo/LTN file
Trustees Molly Blann and Kerry David voiced the most concern about having such an event Dec. 31 when the area is already bustling and hotel rooms are scarce.
Kerry said that capturing a fraction of the crowd that assembles at Stateline with nothing to do would help ensure a successful event. When events are not good the first year, they seldom see a return engagement.
“It has to come out of the shoot great,” she told the board.
While all the negotiations are not complete, another thing the city and LTCC like about the event is the promoter provides security and volunteers. Locals may be hired, but he takes care of that aspect.
A previous concern of the college’s was the sale of alcohol because that is not allowed on campus except under certain circumstances, which this does not apply. However, boozes can be sold and consumed at the ball field.
What LTCC President Kindred Murillo is concerned about is people wandering on campus.
It will be fenced off in some manner, Kerry said.
It is likely the phys ed building will be used as a green room for the bands. In Avon, the recreation center was used in that manner.
In Avon in its first year – which was 2011 – 8,600 tickets were sold. It’s estimated more than $2.6 million in sales were generated, with the average person spending abut $300.
Kerry said alcohol sales weren’t that much, with just one beer booth. How much hot cocoa was consumed was not revealed the other night.
She conveyed that businesses made out by staying open later to accommodate the hungry crowd.
The city is working on ski deals with Heavenly Mountain Resort, using the California lodge for parking, and working with the casinos. The city has also committed to providing shuttles for Snowball-goers.
Social media was the driving force for advertising and ticket sales in Avon, with the same expected for the South Lake Tahoe event.
Why would tourists leave the clubs to stand in the snow? And making a lot of noise for the people who live in that area? For starters, something is needed at Stateline for people to focus on, like a dropping crystal ball. It would also give the networks something to focus on, instead of just panning the mostly drunk, mostly bored, crowd of several, several thousands.
I like the idea, but I do see an issue with the fact that the college is so far from any other activity center. Avon is a small town where you can walk anyplace you need to go. Duck into a cafe or bar on the way if you get chilly. Not so with the college campus. You’ll have to be busing people in and out, which will put a gap in the party. As I said, I like the idea, but maybe someplace closer. Like Ski Run! That’s a doable transport!
I think events are needed in town to spread out the ages that we attract on New Year’s. Great idea.
The casino corridor attracts a certain group but I fear the bands would aim at that same group (and you’re right Dumbluck, they’ve always needed a highlight at midnight, like dice dropping, ball, etc) and thus not be successful.
Would love to see bands that are aimed at a different age group, along with food (but will the college allow alcohol sales?) and other activities.
I wonder if all hotels in our area have been sold out on New Years over the last few years as they used to be in the past.
This promoter has put on 1 show? (2011)
I like Dogwoman think LTCC is too isolated. Ski Run would be a better area, but need to watch the noise level, maybe have it more towards Lake Tahoe BLVD, where there isn’t as much residential on it, or have it in the marina parking lot, but maybe the time share people wouldn’t like that.
I see the reason the promoter wants to do it NY’s Eve and tap into the large group that already comes here. I don’t see this increasing the numbers that come to town, but maybe pulling more into the California side. Does this do anything for us? Will South Lake collect more taxes based on this, and also be paid by the promoter?
Make him doing it on another weekend. Then we’ll see how great his events are.
Why not the night before? Spread out the visitor stays another night, like Friday the 30th? And, we could have events on Sunday to keep the visitor enthused.
3 days of New Years in South Lake Tahoe!
I think New Years Eve Eve is a great idea, most hotels/motels require you to stay more than one night already, so stretch your partying out, build up to the big New Years climax, it could be billed as a training event for New Years ;)
New Years Eve Eve is Friday
New Years Eve is Saturday