According to a representative for Wiscasset Raceway owner Douglas White, the chances of a return of Oxxfest to Wiscasset in 2011 are slim.
“I would say it’s around 20 percent,” said Steve Smith, a co-partner of White’s concert team.
Smith’s statement follows a Dec. 7 decision by the Board of Selectmen to approve tentative permit guidelines for the event scheduled for sometime next July. Smith said Wiscasset is contending with the possibility of a cheaper alternative at the Bangor waterfront, a venue that Oxxfest promoter, Alex Gray, currently has a strong relationship with.
According to Smith, the city of Bangor offers municipal services at a considerably lower cost than Wiscasset and has existing infrastructure to handle the estimated 10,000 fans that are expected to attend.
“Bangor has offered three full-time employees of the parks and recreation department for events. The streamlined approach makes it easier for the promoter to judge costs and frankly to make more money,” said Smith.
If Oxxfest does not return to Wiscasset, it would be a considerable loss of revenue for the area. While the exact dollar amount is unknown, White and a few town officials estimated the economic impact to be around $1,000,000.
“We never had a firm number but I estimated that 10,000 people probably spent around 100 bucks each. I talked to between 8 and 10 businesses who all said they had great business during Oxxfest,” said Selectman Bob Blagden.
At a Dec. 7 public hearing on the proposed concert, local residents raised a number of concerns over the event from public urination to lack of adequate drinking water. Smith and White have proposed significant changes in their preliminary report to the town including on site parking, increased restroom facilities, and stronger barriers around the area where alcoholic beverages are sold. The special amusement permit is contingent upon White submitting all final plans to the town 90 days prior to the event.
While Smith describes the relationship between the promoter and town as “good,” he does point out that Wiscasset officials may be missing a larger monetary point. “Ultimately it comes down to money and there is a lot at stake for the town, local merchants, and us,” Smith said. “The high cost of civil services Wiscasset is seeking does require us to seek alternatives which would result in a lot of money going elsewhere.”
In addition to a number of smaller events, the racetrack is scheduled to host a country music festival that would draw roughly the same amount of fans as Oxxfest said Smith.
“We hoped to have Oxxfest and the country music festival be annual events for many years to come but as everyone knows, nothing lasts forever,” said Smith.
