Is smaller better?
When it comes to revamping the 38-year-old Riverbend Festival, the answer could be yes according to organizers, patrons and businesses near the 21st Century Waterfront where the event has been held for the most part since 1982.
While police and medical personnel were responding to the shooting of two young boys outside of the festival’s perimeter on Saturday night, patrons and staff inside were unaware that anything was amiss, and they were enjoying both a cooler-than-normal evening, at least by festival standards, and a much smaller crowd at past events.
“In a word, it was very unfortunate, but it was outside the venue and had nothing to do with Riverbend,” Riverbend Executive Director Chip Baker said of the shooting.
Throughout the now four-day festival, the small crowds were notable because past Riverbends have claimed nightly attendance numbers as high as 90,000 to 100,000. This year’s numbers, also unconfirmed, likely were closer to 20,000 to 30,000 at peak moments, according to several people close to the festival. Baker said the decrease was expected, and he believes there is reason to be optimistic about the event’s future.