Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Airshow topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Organizers ask A&P for $50,000 to cover fuel, hospitality and infrastructure for first Texarkana Airshow
Summary
Airshow organizers told the A&P Commission the one‑time fuel and performer costs push the inaugural event toward a $322,000 budget and asked for $50,000 from the A&P fund; commissioners pressed on line items and prior A&P spending.
Organizers of a planned Texarkana Airshow told the Advertising & Promotion Commission that the inaugural show bundles concerts, a bike show, barbecue competition and an air demonstration and that rising fuel and performer costs make a one‑time A&P subsidy necessary.
Brandon Sanders, lead presenter for the airshow, described a program of concerts, an army parachute team, supercar runs on the runway and a barbecue contest. He said projected gross revenue sources totalled roughly $289,000 against an estimated cost of $322,000, and requested $50,000 from A&P to cover potential shortfalls for fuel, performer hotel stays and event infrastructure such as security and signage.
“Max participation, we’re looking at net now $252,000,” Sanders told commissioners while laying out ticketing and sponsorship assumptions. Commissioners asked why the requested A&P amount exceeds the stated shortfall of $33,000 and flagged the need to see where previously awarded A&P dollars had been spent. Sanders said prior allocations were used for digital marketing and assets and that some guarantees — for example, hospitality guarantees or fuel guarantees for specialty performers — can create unpredictable additional costs.
Commissioners asked for clearer invoice‑level detail for advertising, performer guarantees, and infrastructure line items before committing to a large award. No final allocation was made; staff said the airshow team could return with more detailed budget backup for A&P consideration.
