Ocean City to receive nearly $15,000 from June air show profits
Gross profit from summer show amounts to just over $39,000, organizer says
CHRISTINE CULLEN n Staff Writer
(July 31, 2009) The success of June's OC Air Show will mean just under $15,000 will go to the Ocean City government as its share of the event's profits.
That contribution will reduce local government's cash outlay to the show to $30,000. The city put up $50,000 to help stage the two-day air show but approximately $5,000 of that was not spent after bad weather forced the early cancellation of the show's first day.
The city's money helped pay the fees for the demonstration teams, fuel for the planes and advertising costs. Special Events Director John Sullivan said the city also contributed $70,341 in in-kind services for city employees who worked at the event instead of at their regular assignments. Of that amount, $15,743 was for overtime costs.
"All these are the costs of doing business," Councilman Doug Cymek said during Tuesday's council meeting. "This event brings millions of dollars into our local economy."
Bryan Lilley, organizer of the air show, said the gross profit from the 2009 event was $39,390. Using a formula outlined in the contract signed between the city and Lilley, the city will receive $14,789 of those profits.
But before the check is signed, Cymek asked that the city's auditor review the air show figures.
"We're partners; this should all be transparent," he said.
Whatever the dollar figures turn out to be, the council agreed the event was not just successful but in only two years has become one of the top events in the resort.
"This has become a signature event for Ocean City," Mayor Rick Meehan said. "I think the crowds appreciated the event and felt it was worth their time and money spent."
The air show saw acrobatic flight performances, parachute jumps by the U.S. Army Golden Knights and U.S. Navy Leap Frogs, flights by military and civilian aircraft and a demonstration by the renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
"They had the most spectacular time here in Ocean City," Lilley said of the performers.
Dates of June 5-6 have tentatively been scheduled for the 2010 show. Lilley said the major demonstrations teams like the Thunderbirds will announce their lineups for the coming year in December, when Ocean City will learn if it is once again on the roster.
