Cutting Salmon Fest loose should mean money for roads: residents

Some Grand Falls-Windsor residents aren't surprised by the town's decision to distance itself from the Exploits Valley Salmon Festival they say taxpayers'money should be put to better use.

• 'End of an era' for mega-concert Salmon Festival, after $1.1M loss in 2 years

Jackie Jacobs told CBC News last year's concert was mismanaged and poorly planned.

She wasn't surprised to hear the town lost $667,000 last year alone as a result of poor ticket sales.

Some of the roads, they're still not fit to be on.- Jackie Jacobs, Grand Falls-Windsor resident

"When you're to the point that people can't get water or they can't even get emergency services that they need because the crowd's too heavy, what can they expect," she said.

Jacobs said Salmon Festival has earned a bad reputation in recent years, and she'd like to see the money go elsewhere.

"Roads, infrastructure for sure because some of the roads, they're still not fit to be on."

Geoff Pretty was born and raised in the town and said news of the $1.5-million loss, in addition to high municipal assessment rates, hashim very concerned.

Pretty attended the Eagles concert back in 2013 and, despite feedback from fans who said it was a failure, Pretty had "a very enjoyable day."

But Pretty said the town can no longer afford to throw a mega concert, especially if a St. John's promoter continues to throw a concert on the same day.

Growing up in Grand Falls-Windsor, Pretty said some of his favourite memories are of smaller events hosted by the town.

"There were free concerts in the park, there were town barbecues on High Street, they were the better Salmon Festivals in my day," he said.

"Everyone enjoyed themselves [but] it got to greed, and it got to these major concerts and this town can't afford it any more."