The official numbers aren’t in yet. But a consensus emerged Sunday that attendance at the annual Route 66 Rendezvous classic-car show in San Bernardino, Calif., was markedly down this year, according to the San Bernardino County Sun.
Reasons for the crowd drop-offs included:
— Hot weather. High temperatures on Friday and Saturday — the two biggest days of the festival — were 102 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. As folks at the recent International Route 66 Festival can attest, hot weather depresses crowd numbers.
— Uncertainty. As recently as a month ago, it wasn’t 100% certain whether the Rendezvous would be held. The cash-strapped City of San Bernardino filed for bankruptcy earlier this summer, and festival organizers were forced to raise donations to pay for police patrols during the event.
— Late confirmations. One classic-car exhibitor said he didn’t receive confirmation of his usual parking space until two weeks before the event. In previous Rendezvous, confirmations were mailed months in advance.
Karen Blanco of the San Bernardino Convention and Visitors Bureau said the event’s goal is to remain in downtown San Bernardino through 2014.
Glen Helen Regional Park in nearby Devore has been mentioned as a possible future Rendezvous site. However, several exhibitors contacted by the Sun said they wouldn’t attend if the event were moved.
If it takes donations to fund it, is NOT a avantage to the city anymore in anyway, Sure that it will probally Die. As is the City itself. It’s a SAD thing but definately happening. It was a Great event for yrs. But feel it’s ran its course. I attended and participated in 90% of the Shows no longer is it worth the effort. As far a temp causing the poor showing? Thats not true, I was there at the show yrs ago when it was 110 degrees! The place was packed!