Published Wednesday, June 24, 2009 6:05 AM
Reds festival deemed a 'success'
By CASSIE SMITH
cassie.smith@theeagle.com
The Texas Reds Steak and Grape Festival sold out of wine and glasses for the first time, while beer sales almost doubled at this past weekend's event, officials said.
City Manager David Watkins told City Council members at Tuesday's meeting that the third-annual downtown festival had at least a 35 percent increase in riders on the free shuttle service that was provided.
"I think by any definition, this weekend was a five-star, home-run success," Watkins said of the event that drew more than 20,000 people.
Visitors came from 18 different states and from four countries, which also was an increase over last year, Watkins said.
Steak sales were up by 35 percent from last year and the festival's revenue was up at least 40 percent, Watkins said, adding officials were still counting receipts.
"This has grown bigger than just a city event. It's become a community event," he said, describing the more than 500 volunteers who helped over two days.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, the council approved the following:
* Spending more than $79,000 to buy wireless video surveillance components for the police department in an effort to continue to improve safety in downtown Bryan. The city currently has six video surveillance cameras in that area. The new cameras would be used throughout the community, though the locations were not disclosed, officials said.
* Hiring Denver-based Magnolia Hotels to manage the LaSalle Hotel & Café. The company was vying against College Station-based Oldham Goodwin Group for management of the downtown hotel.
Magnolia proposed taking over management in August, which is when time travel agents and corporations across the state lock in rates with hotels. Company officials have indicated they want to manage the location, with a long-range interest in possibly owning the hotel. The council directed staff to begin negotiations with the company over a price.
* Rezoning more than 77 acres of vacant land, adjoining the southeast side of Old Reliance Road between Austin's Creek Drive and Wallis Road from agricultural-open to planned development. Bryan-College Station Development Company, the property owners, plan to subdivide the land for a single-family residential neighborhood.
* Paying more than $86,000 for an advanced funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation. The money would go toward the construction of pedestrian and under-bridge lighting, which would work in conjunction with the state's project to replace the Old Reliance Road Overpass.
Comments
[comment]
23 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Saturday, June 27, 2009 6:10 AM
Comment Title: Please move the Reds Fest to April
I worked the Reds Fest and I agree that June is too hot! Move the fest to April!
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Posted by:
On:
Friday, June 26, 2009 11:22 AM
Comment Title:
Awww, you sound like sour grapes cuz College Station don't got no downtown in which to throw a party. tsk, tsk, tsk.
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Posted by:
On:
Friday, June 26, 2009 7:58 AM
Comment Title: Head line should be
"I did a great job," says Watkins. I am really good at throwing a party although there were a few mismanaged issues but all the city officials and staff were well taken care of so all is well. Roads, safety, city infrastructure, who needs it we had a party.
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, June 25, 2009 5:57 PM
Comment Title:
Article is still there but hard to get to: Home - News:Local:More Headlines - Wednesday (Daily Archives) ----- Also, It is still listed under Most Viewed.
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, June 25, 2009 5:14 PM
Comment Title:
Anyone else notice how quickly the Fred Brown article and comments disappeared?
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, June 25, 2009 5:00 PM
Comment Title: Bryan City Government
It is a mess from top to bottom. Need new mayor and council and then clean house. Police Chief is gone now get rid of Watkins and hire some people who know something about zoning, planning, protection and economic development. The city combination ran me out of Bryan and to College Station which I must admit is not much better but at least this last mayor election shows a desire for change.
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, June 25, 2009 2:30 PM
Comment Title:
do some research. see how much these non-local companies are kicking back to watkins and his crew for these contracts. follow the money, shine a light. then, get your butts out and vote. four thousand people decide the fate of college station and bryan. that's disgusting. get motivated, or get what you deserve
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Posted by:
Wouldn't there be more "success" with a local company? On:
Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:21 AM
Comment Title:
My guess would be yes. The Bryan Municipal Golf Course was making a profit before the council chose to hire a company to run it and let the local mgmt. go. Guess what, the golf course lost money every year since. Now the old local management is back and guess what again - it is making money. It is the only civic recreational facility earning its keep and providing revenue to the COB general fund.
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Posted by:
citizen On:
Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:02 AM
Comment Title: 1st time attending
We went to the festival on Saturday at 7pm...We came for three reasons; to taste different wines, enjoy the music, and to support our local venues. We purchased $50 worth of tickets for wine...spent 20 minutes trying to find the remaining two lines located off Main street somewhere. The remaining wine was not very good and was very disappointed. We gave away $25 in tickets when we left. Earl Thomas Conley was amazing but couldn't really see him only heard him. There were many drunk individuals walking around. I would never bring children to this. The vendors were so so...People that were there seemed to be enjoying themselves but we were very disappointed. Suggest maybe Fall when it's cooler. Better organization as far as wine tasting, location, etc.... We do appreciate the event though and all the volunteers.
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Posted by:
On:
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:40 AM
Comment Title: Keep business here
The above article states the success of the Texas Reds Festival; and expect it to become bigger next year while crediting local leaders, and mainly local and area attendees for this success. In other items in the same article, a Denver-based company has been awarded the contract to turn the LaSalle Hotel into a profitable operation. Why could this contaract not be given to local companies vying for the job? Wouldn't there be more "success" with a local company?
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Posted by:
Visitors came from 18 different states and from four countries On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:05 PM
Comment Title:
Yup David, they all came from far away places specifically for this festival.
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Posted by:
doug On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:10 PM
Comment Title:
.."which is when time travel agents and corporations.." AHA! time travel agents and corporations, all under the thin guise of a wine/steak festival. scan me.
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Posted by:
Re: Beer Tent Relocation On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 6:13 PM
Comment Title:
This is Watkin's baby, so email him with your suggestion at dwatkins@bryantx.gov -
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 6:08 PM
Comment Title:
The new cameras would be used throughout the community, though the locations were not disclosed, officials said.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 5:22 PM
Comment Title:
More crime cameras for safe downtown. What about the dangerous parts of Bryan.
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Posted by:
Ridiculous On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:31 PM
Comment Title: Gotta be kidding me
You've got to be kidding me Watkins. Your wine vendors ran out of wine at around 7pm and the beer lines were ridiculous. I'm sure it was a great success for city staff that got to skip all the lines and get drunk for free on my tax dollars. Were do I get my $60 for the two "wine lovers" packages you ripped me out off when I could not get any wine due to your pool planning?
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 3:02 PM
Comment Title:
Agree with earlier posters about moving it. It's a wine festival. 100 degree temperatures and alcohol aren't a good mix.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:29 PM
Comment Title: OMG....
get over it people, we are in Texas, we all know its hot. Does it mean that you don't go out at all in the summer because you can't enjoy yourself? Sorry for you, I guess you'll miss a lot of events.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:04 AM
Comment Title:
This is Texas. Its hot. Get over it. Beer tents should have been located on side streets so as not to disrupt pedestrian flow and so that the supply carts could access the rear of the tents without trying to make it through the crowds. Great entertainment. Look forward to it next year.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:18 AM
Comment Title:
"It was too damn hot to enjoy yourself....Move this to Oct..." ----------------------- Amen! I wanted to go, but I have a ten month old and did not want him out in this heat. October would be a much better time for this. This time of year, the only food I want to eat outside is a sno-cone.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:14 AM
Comment Title:
Yes, it was hot, but it was so much fun. I am looking forward to next year. Great job, City of Bryan!
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Posted by:
Willie On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 7:45 AM
Comment Title: Stay Home Then
Too Hot - Stay Home. Great event City of Bryan. Me and the FAMILY had a great time. Did not even need to partake in the beer or wine to have that great time. See ya next year - same time.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 7:19 AM
Comment Title:
It was too damn hot to enjoy yourself....Move this to Oct...
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