New Math?

[Mattmutz2]

I went through my archive at home from my time on staff... I can't find documentation about when EAA changed the way they "count" admissions. Perhaps an on-staff historian remembers? I can think of two that certainly should. My neighbor, a lifetime member, seems to think it was 2003, 2004, or 2005. But, regardless of *when*, if you change the way you "count" then is that not automatically some "creative accounting"?

If I'm teaching my daughter to count, am I allowed to tell her sometimes a dozen is 12, and sometimes it is 21.3?

My concern is for the Oshkosh residents and our neighbors in surrounding townships/counties/etc. I strongly believe EAA overstates their economic impact on the area. I don't doubt that "convention" I mean, AirVenture, of course, brings in money, but I know the numbers are overstated.

I'd like to see sources. Maybe some EAA reports, or tax filings. If I'm wrong, I'll gladly buy y'all a beer and apologize.

[Jim Heffelfinger]

Here is one published report
http://winnebago.uwex.edu/files/2010/09/WittmanRegionalAirport2007EconomicImpactAnalysisRe port.pdf

[Unwiredone]

It was shared with me that the 'local' economic impact was $113 Million a year. I have the documentation from the EAA that backs this up.

[Mattmutz2]

Here is one published report

Ooh, good stuff. Thank you for the share. I'd never seen this before.

[Mattmutz2]

have the documentation from the EAA that backs this up.

I have good reason to doubt any "documentation" from EAA.

[Anymouse]

I have good reason to doubt any "documentation" from EAA.

Are you related to Jim Campbell??

[Mattmutz2]

Are you related to Jim Campbell??

I am not. But here is a great quote from him

Time is not on our side. At most, we have 5 years and maybe fewer before the only GA left is business aviation and the very wealthy.

Source:http://aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&ID=79F9AB5B-1E75-47BC-954F-A7925D2A8DE7

[Burtles]

Matt,

According to published sources, EAA changed their counting method in 2006. From the 1980's until 2005 they used to report attendances in the 700,000 and 800,000 range. There was a lot of skepticism about the validity of these numbers. In 2006 the number was published as 545,000 and EAA said they were correcting past counting errors.

Since then the attendance has been published as:

2006 - 545,000
2007 - 560,000
2008 - 540,000
2009 - 578,000
2010 - 535,000
2011 - 541,000
2012 - 508,000

Which does show what many could observe with their eyes - attendance this year was way down.

Can't blame the economy or the weather. My theory is that it was a combination of aggressive price increases, along with the departure of most of the marketing department.

[martymayes]

Wow, they might have a challenge on their hands to break 500,000 next yr. There is easily 8000 PO'd members.

Will probably have to relocate the event closer to the population center of the US to facilitate attendance. Population center of the contiguous US is in Missouri.

Obviously the attendance number have little relevance because the organizers are going to call the event a roaring success regardless of attendance.

[Unwiredone]

Matt,

According to published sources, EAA changed their counting method in 2006. From the 1980's until 2005 they used to report attendances in the 700,000 and 800,000 range. There was a lot of skepticism about the validity of these numbers. In 2006 the number was published as 545,000 and EAA said they were correcting past counting errors.

Since then the attendance has been published as:

2006 - 545,000
2007 - 560,000
2008 - 540,000
2009 - 578,000
2010 - 535,000
2011 - 541,000
2012 - 508,000

Which does show what many could observe with their eyes - attendance this year was way down.

Can't blame the economy or the weather. My theory is that it was a combination of aggressive price increases, along with the departure of most of the marketing department.

Amazing how all the numbers are all even thousands. A statistical anomaly? If the math is so accurate in what they use, give us the REAL number of wristbands sold and exactly how many people attended the event.