Visit Ashland seeks support as event funding shrinks; InfinityCon proposed as revenue-generating draw
Loading...
Summary
Visit Ashland staff reported a $150,000 drop in ARPA-related event funds and lower sponsorships, and proposed InfinityCon (a $75,000 video-game 'immersive' event) that staff say can be ticketed to recoup costs and attract out-of-region visitors. Commissioners asked for clearer reimbursement policies for police and for Visit Ashland to return with a detailed budget.
Visit Ashland presented a year-over-year event-budget comparison showing the loss of roughly $150,000 in ARPA funding and a decline in sponsorship revenue that together create a significant shortfall for traditional community events (e.g., First Friday, Bikenfest). The tourism director said the organization’s base budget is approximately $220,000 (funded by transient/hotel tax) and that payroll and event costs push the total event budget materially higher.
The director outlined InfinityCon, a proposed video-game ‘immersive’ event scheduled tentatively for October. The Visit Ashland presentation listed an estimated $75,000 cost for the event; about $45,000 of that is described as intellectual-property/licensing fees to import the event concept from a third-party operator. The director said InfinityCon can be ticketed and marketed regionally, with the expectation of recouping costs and creating overnight stays. "It costs $45,000 for the intellectual property," the presenter stated when describing the pricing model.
Commissioners questioned who has historically borne police and barricade costs for events and whether Visit Ashland or the city should require reimbursement. Staff said the city has absorbed many of those costs in the past, sometimes as in-kind contributions; commissioners suggested formalizing the approach so the budget reflects either reimbursement or in-kind arrangements. Several commissioners asked Visit Ashland to return with a detailed line-item budget, a sponsorship plan and a clear reimbursement policy for services provided by public safety.
What’s next: Visit Ashland will present a PowerPoint budget breakdown to the commission at an upcoming meeting with line-item details, proposed sponsorship revenue, and a plan for policing and barricade expenses.
