Country Music Star Jason Aldean was no match, attendance wise, when offering $1.00 admission to the NYS Fair on Labor Day 2014. More people gave the turnstiles and ticket takers a work-out on Monday than they did when Aldean appeared on Saturday and helped to break the all-time attendance record for that day.
Ah, no sweat (unless you were walking around in the sizzlin‘ 90 degree heat). 122,870 people attended the Fair on Monday, breaking the record for Labor Day in 2001 of 108,216. The total 12 day attendance was 965,147... more than double in 2013 but, not enough to break the all-time attendance record of 1,011,248 set back in 2001. To close-out the Fair, a colorful fireworks show followed by a steady red glare of tail lights that illuminated the parking lots as drivers tried to leave. However, drivers in lots along State Fair Boulevard Labor Day night were at a standstill for a very, very long time as State Troopers appeared to be clearing those lots out first.
Traffic insiders tell me they thought that they were never going to move until midnight and spent at least an hour at a standstill (point of disclosure: my own family). They were getting a bit sickened from the gas fumes as drivers revved up their engines waiting to leave the Fair. Yep, that’s what happens when you let people in a for a dollar on a gorgeous but, scorching HOT summer day! Record setting crowds come on out. So, long State Fair. No more Villa Fried Dough or 35 degree Chocolate Milk to dunk it in from the Dairy Building for another year.
