Shorter Oklahoma State Fair means less revenue for vendors

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Some vendors and ride operators at the Oklahoma State Fair said they lost money at this year's event, which ended an 11-day run Sunday.<br/><br/>But fair officials say daily attendance

Monday, September 27th 2004, 6:05 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Some vendors and ride operators at the Oklahoma State Fair said they lost money at this year's event, which ended an 11-day run Sunday.

But fair officials say daily attendance at the fair was higher this year than in past years when the fair ran for 17 days.

Kevin Bosley is a manager for Wade Shows, a Florida carnival ride company. Bosley says it's hard to make up for the extra weekend that was dropped from this year's fair.

Tim O'Toole, president and general manager of the fair, said a drop in vendor revenue was discussed by fair organizers. But with higher daily attendance and fewer expenses from the shorter run, O'Toole says he hoped vendors would not lose money.

O'Toole says early plans for next year's event are to stick with the 11-day format.