Corpus Christi (KIII News) — Corpus Christi's Convention & Visitor's Bureau wants residents to know they are not trying to turn a profit by sponsoring Fiesta de la Flor.
The festival could bring as many as 70,000 people to the Coastal Bend this weekend, and with them a massive economic boon for the city.
"We have a 501C-3 that we use to put on the festival, so the sponsors pay us, we sell tickets, we sell merchandise, and all that goes to the Convention & Visitor's Bureau," CVB President Paulette Kluge said. "So the City is not involved in any way other than providing services and supporting us."
That support is the average cost of the City supporting any of the events held in Corpus Christi, like the Dia de los Meurtos, Buc Days, Skills USA and St. Patrick's Day events, among others.
In a contract approved by City Council back in January, those costs were clearly outlined. They include more than $12,000 for the rental of Bayfront Park and the Water Garden; a little more than $23,000 for police security; just over $22,000 for traffic control; and more than $500 for solid waste cleanup of downtown.
The City splits that cost with the CVB.
"The CVB and its underwriters for the event help pay for 50-percent of the cost of the City services," said Jay Ellington of the City's Parks & Recreation Department.
Ellington said the City considers events like Fiesta de la Flor as an investment in the community.
"We provide 50-percent of those as part of our community-based donation to the event, and really part of our welcoming people to our community during that time frame," Ellington said.
According to the tax records for the first year of Fiesta de la Flor, the CVB lost more than $11,000 hosting the celebration. Any profit the event does produce goes back into the CVB's budget to help promote and sponsor the event the following year.
"We put this festival on to put heads in beds. Our job is to bring people to Corpus Christi, so they bring money in their pockets and leave it here for us," Kluge said. "We are not here to make a big, big, big profit. We want to break even. We want to make some money so we can continue doing the festival."
The first year of the festival brought in 50,000 people, and there were 55,000 people each of the last two Fiesta de la Flor events. Organizers hope the nationwide rise in popularity of the Tejano star will mean even more people this year.
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