The Hollister Airshow has lost money in four of its five years in existence and finished this past year $25,000 in the red, according to numbers provided during Monday’s council meeting.
The event hasn’t made money since its inaugural year when there were 4,000 people counted as paid attendees, compared with 2,300 in 2014 over Father’s Day weekend. That was an increase from paid attendance in 2013 of 2,080.
Airport Director Mike Chambless on Monday provided a final report on this year’s air show. He mentioned the $25,000-plus loss – roughly $64,000 in expenses and $38,000 in revenue, he said – and the relatively low attendance figure.
Still, some council members expressed support for the event’s impacts on the area and airport director, who pointed to a security issue and many unpaid attendees being at the 2014 event. City officials heard the report and could not make any decisions on the event’s future Monday.
“I see nothing but an upside here,” Mayor Ignacio Velazquez said.
Councilman Victor Gomez appeared more cautious.
“If this was a break-even event, it would be a lot easier to swallow these results,” Gomez said.
Hollister officials previously have used airport funds to support the event. On Monday, they discussed the possibility of using general fund money.
