With City staff on hand to help with the counting, there was a reported $61,000 in beer sales at last Friday nights Tragically Hip concert at the Fairgrounds, thus netting $6,100 for the City. City Council was informed of the submission today. That is more than the reported sales for all such events last year.
At the prices charged that amounts to about 100 kegs. The particular demographics attracted to this band likely led to the large sales volume.
That volume of sales should also generate over $4500 in sales tax revenue.
The sales did not come without incident. After the concert a 47 year old retired CO from Ogdensburg left the facility and hopped into a City pick up truck on site for cleanup. The man is said to have hit several cones upon driving away and was picked up north of the City on Route 37. He blew a .21 and was charged with felony DWI and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The truck was recovered with no damage.
30 comments:
he must have his own set of keys, eh?
It's a miracle it wasn't worse than that. The concert's crowd control was horrible! If he made it ALL the way to Route 37 he must be a good driver!
I agree with the previous post, and even further, the entire organization of the event was horrible. I missed all but two songs of the opener waiting in line to use a porta-potty. Once I was lucky enough to find the guy handing out wrist bands to verify I was of age, I made my way to the chaos-riddled beer tent which took another 20 minutes to get to the table after squeezing my way through a crowd of about 30 or 40 people. I hope the DPAO learned their lesson and will provide a better concert experience for future 'demographically liberal' crowds. Just glad I didn't pay extra for the reserved standing as people were walking freely between reserved and general admission. Hope you can get your act together DPAO.
So The Tragically Hip attracts drunks, is that what you're saying?
The ignorant actions of the few don't define the population.
Don't get me wrong, this guy obvioualy can't handle alcohol consumption in a responsible manner. That one statement just doesn't seem an appropriate one.
k great good time had by all by the sounds if it but why must the media continue to bash on law enforcement (especially retired) k yes law enforcement are held to a high degree in the publics eye but he was retired anyways so why mention he was a retired CO innthe first place? do you ever see the media mention anybody elses occupation when charged with a crime? like a nurse arrested for this a carpenter arrested for that? NO !!! so why not be fair to everybody and just state what is necessary on a arrest related article instead of giving a certain group of people ( in this case CO's) a bad rep, if anything you should be somewhat thankful that somebody wants to do that job otherwise who would watch the more serious offenders?
It's a mistake to serve alcoholic beverages at a function such as this. I know it brings in cash, but DPAO's mission has always been to provide services for the disabled and their families and many of those families attend. Alcohol sales detract from the spirit of the DPAO's organization.
It's a mistake to serve alcoholic beverages at a function such as this. I know it brings in cash, but DPAO's mission has always been to provide services for the disabled and their families and many of those families attend. Alcohol sales detract from the spirit of the DPAO's organization.
So, the moral of the story is the DPW shouldn't be leaving their keys in their vehicles?
I don't even know where to start.
I have been a HIP fan for many years and always look forward to seeing them live. I have been to 27 concerts. Most have been in Canada, but some in Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester and SC. I had been so excited for the past few months looking forward to seeing them in a place so close to home. What a disastrous disappointment. Never in my life have I been so embarrassed to call this place home. The people of Watertown and surrounding areas need to learn some manners. Obviously this does not apply to everyone there. For the most part- what I witnessed was like a scene out of deliverance. The real Hip Fans that I have always had the pleasure of seeing at concerts do not behave this way.
My sister and I had left our spot to use the restroom. This is never been an issue at any other concert that I have been to. When we were on our way back to my husband we were politely as possible saying excuse me, trying to make our way through. We were not forcefully trying to push our way through the crowd or even trying to make our way back to the stage, more to the left. One (at least 50 year old woman- wearing some sort of blue printed shirt with bright blue eye shadow) grabbed me and said I don't think so. I calmly told her that I was trying to get back to my husband and that this was a concert, to please let go of my arm, she did as she pushed me forward. At the same time a man with her (shorter than her - wearing a cranberry/ maroon polo shirt and baseball hat) took our beers out of our hands and dumped them down the front of our shirts. Completely uncalled for. As I turned around he was screaming in my face and then pointed to a child on someone’s shoulder and said, step back BITCH, don't you see the kid there. My sister who was fuming angry said, "Yes- my son is home, same place that he should be" As she did that, the man drew back his fist and swung at her, just missing her face. My sister is 28 and weighs 100 lbs. At that point a kid (approx 22-24, tall and thick- assuming it was their son) turned around and starting chanting Whores!! Whores!! at us. We were both soaked from our own beer, shaking and in shock. I never saw my husband or group again until the last song. Where was security then? And responsible adults should be able to have a beer at a concert.
I still feel like this is a bad dream. Hip Fans do not behave this way, Watertown Scumbags do. Thank you so much for turning one of my favorite pastimes into a wretched experience. This was no fault of the HIP, this was all watertown.
The event was poorly planned. There should have been separate areas in both sections for beer tents and bathroom facilities. I have seen the Hip no fewer than a dozen times in various venues and I enjoyed this show the least based upon the logistics of how everything was set up.
Because of this, I won't be attending any concerts there even though I had been planning to see Godsmack later this summer.
For the people who say beer shouldn't be sold at these events. It is a concert and suppose to be a good time and I would say that 90% of the people at the Hip concert were responsible drinkers don't let 10% ruin it for the rest of us. If there wasn't beer at the show I proabaly wouldn't have attended. Furthermore I can't imagine that the DPAO makes a great deal of individual tickets but bonuses out on the beer and food sold! I have lived in Watertown my whole life and finally we get some good bands coming and again more locals will complain! Get out to some shows at some other venues and see what goes on and then come back and complain that beer was sold and one guy stole a truck and got a DWI! The Watertown locals are so afraid of change and a good time because it isn't their usual boring day. I am ashamed to be considered a local due to people like this.
Also just because someone is disabled doesn't mean that they don't want a beer. Some enjoy a frothy beer they arent dead!
I was one of those people that paid extra for the reserved section and I quickly found myself standing behind people that did not have the reserved area wristband. Between trying to get a couple beers and trying use the bathroom, I wasted over an hour of my life. I had to push and shove to get to the gate for the 'special reserved area' because they stupidly put the gate in the center/in front of the stage instead of on the sides. And just after I got in they purposely took down the fence. DPAO should look at this concert as a complete failure. They knew how many tickets they sold so why didn't they know how many port-a-potties they needed? Did they think a lot of people that paid a whopping $76 might not show up. DPAO said that the Hip requested the fence be taken down but they should give back the extra $9 that we all paid then.
Will I attend another DPAO concert? DPA-NO!
Do you leave your keys in your own vehicle while parked unattended anywhere in the city of Watertown, or anywhere else for that matter? If you do your probably lacking in the brains department! Whoever was in charge of that vehicle, which is owned by the tax payers who paid for it should be reprimanded in some way shape or form as to guarantee they don't do it again!
How many vehicles did we need there anyways.
"It's a mistake to serve alcoholic beverages at a function such as this. I know it brings in cash, but DPAO's mission has always been to provide services for the disabled and their families and many of those families attend. Alcohol sales detract from the spirit of the DPAO's organization."
- If they didnt serve alcohol there I bet you wouldnt have seen half the people there. That and the city would have been out 6,100. MONEY TALKS!
My question would be; in the days of conserving, was the city staff on hand paid overtime to count all that money?
you may say one person had a little too much to drink, but i'm pretty sure there were plenty of people at the Hip concert that were heavily intoxicated that night and drove home. there needs to be more safety precautions at events such as this. and i also agree that it does not need to be said that he was a retired CO. MAYBE the city of Watertown will learn not to keep the keys to the trucks in them at such events where there is alcohol being consumed or at public events at all. good job Watertown
Yes, the Hip attracts drunks. Duh!
if you attended this concert you have no ear for music anyways--THEY ABSOLUTELY STINK---I HAVE SEEN BETTER TALENT AT GRADE SCHOOL BAND CONCERTS!!!
Hey 3:36 get a LIFE, The Hips one of the BEST bands for the last decade. I'm also older than 50.
I find it hard to believe that the city made more off beer sales at this one event then it did off the events last year together?? Seems to me the 'person' in charge of reporting these sales in the past hasn't been very honest. Go figure- this one is actually supervised and the city made $$ - sounds like someone should do a little reaserch. I have been to my share of concerts/events at the fairgrounds and have waited in line for beer at most of them. You are in the bar business Jeff - do the math! It's not fair to make 'Hip' fans look like a bunch of drunks - most of them are the same fans that attend the other concerts. Do some research......Watertown needs to know how much $$ we've missed out on by someone's dishonesty!
I think someone should look into what the real story is before they publish such headlines... Did the so called drunk take the truck or did the owner tell him to take it because his ride left? get the facts!
Even IF the truck owner gave him permission . . . the truck belongs to the DPW NOT the driver . . . AND the guy blew a .21 . . . there is no amount of speculation needed about whether he was drunk or not. It is just a good thing he didn't injure any innocent people once he "borrowed" the truck.
This whole thing is a joke. No beer.. that will work. No shows to be scheduled then. False reports.. count the kegs, it isn't like those aren't in plain view to see. Lot's of mistrust and Monday morning QB's in the city... or maybe just the same person posting. I wonder how many subs the Subway sold? Maybe the city should ask for 10% of the sales at Coleman's and the Fairgrounds Inn. Can't we just bring some national acts to Watertown to enjoy? No one is going to want to come here. Wait, that is already the case!! Thank god for Fort Drum or this area would be a ghost town. Bottom line, someone needs to step up and build a facility OUTSIDE the city. Get this current group of politicians out of the loop and move it where people can enjoy themselves, promoters can enjoy the shows and acts will want to continue to come here as they currently do thanks to people like DPAO, AMP Entertainment, etc.
Section 1210. Unattended motor vehicle.
(a) No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping
the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the vehicle, and effectively setting the brake thereon
and, when standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway. Now we dont adhere to NY state Traffic laws either..If Borrowed with out asking it shouldnt have had keys in it...If given, then the worker should be repremanded for this.
As to The event in particular...set up correctly with any common sense, It wouldnt matter if alcohol was sold or not. The placement of the Tents and the Problem of nobody checking wrist bands for front stage access was doomed from the beginning
Hey 11;35 hit it on the head, Build an event center they will come, the only thing is who runs it? A 501C created by the county beaucrats, JCC will start an event planner degree, oh no more Tax $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ spent on what the Queen of JCC wants, Here's a thought put it in the Town of Pamelia, Have Larry Longway run it.
U really can not be serious! DPAO and AMP. Entertainment could put Watertown on the map this summer. Any and all shows I have been to sell alcohol. Would u close down all the bars and restaurants in Watertown that sell alcohol? NO! Drinking and driving is an individual choice. I was a DD for the Hip. I still had a great time. From one event to the next, learn and tweek to make things better. This summer line up in Watertown is nothing better than sliced bread. Local talent and names like Papa Roach,Tragically Hip,and Godsmack? Music is art not just entertainment. Embrace it and support it. Why try to suppress and hinder something that feeds the soul? Rock on Watertown!
This is the greatest thread we've had in a long time. Great stories of stupidity. My heart goes out to all you trajic peeeeple. First off, if you weren't drunks, you wouldn't have to trudge off the the pisser so much to relieve yourself. Try drinking responsibly and you wouldn't have to continuously give up your seats to to leak it. Have a beer, maybe a second, but that should do it. If you have to start the concert with a drain trip, will duh. At least there was a nice breeze that night so you didn't have to enjoy the aroma of each other. Rock on!!
I enjoyed the concert sans beer. Loved the Hip.
Post a Comment