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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) There is a saturation point for everything. If a city has more restaurants than people who dine-out, some will close. More jobs than people to fill them? Companies will, eventually, move away.
We’re already at the saturation point for fun things. Too many pickleball players, and still many, many empty tennis courts.
Milwaukee is at the saturation point for outdoor concerts. The city hosts Summerfest, of course. That’s three weekends of big-name musical acts. The state fair brings in music industry superstars. Fiserv Forum is a popular concert venue and is now a tour-stop for some of the biggest names in entertainment. And over the past three years, Harley Davidson has hosted Harley Homecoming, with motorcycle rides through the streets, tours of their headquarters and museum, and outdoor concerts.
Harley has decided that Milwaukee has reached the saturation point. Homecoming is cancelled for this summer.
This makes perfect sense. People only have so much money to spend on entertainment. Concert ticket prices are through the roof. And, years ago, I saw the price list for Wausau’s Wisconsin Valley Fair… for secondary musical acts that are on the road. Booking has-been bands is crazy-expensive. That’s why there’s a demo derby, a rodeo, and the Kids from Wisconsin on nights when there used to be concerts. Booking the acts costs too much.
Harley-Davidson arrived at the right decision, and they’re bowing out of the concert business the right way. They’re becoming a corporate sponsor of Summerfest; H-D is now the official bike of the music festival. They’ll have special Summerfest events for Harley owners and riders. And they’ll become the naming-sponsor of Milwaukee’s Independence Day fireworks.
The irony is that Harley Homecoming was a successful event. But the live concert market is saturated. No worries… you’ll still have many, many concerts to see.
Chris Conley
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