Just sent to the Patriot News:
Dear Patriot News, I've been informed that as of today, the Hershey Spectacular, the drum and bugle corps competition long associated with Hershey's stadium, has been cancelled, and in my opinion, all in the name of greed. The negotiations to secure the site with a written contract instead of the oral agreement used for many years, failed to come to an agreement that would've been fair to both parties and especially to the many, many drum corps fans from around the country as well as international fans. The announcement of cancellation stated that "Several key items of the contract were of issue, most notably was an estimated price increase in excess of 110%". Five Star Brass Productions wasn't looking to increase their ticket prices by 110% and in fact, in their annual mailing, they reaffirm their desire, intent and position to hold the cost of the competition to its current level. To me, that means that Hershey Entertainment had no true intent to allow this competition to take place in their stadium and they put Five Star Brass Productions at a distinct disadvantage knowing that the FSB Productions organization would not charge typically accepted exorbitant entertainment prices for a drum corps competition event. To me, this was an attempt to capitalize on the drum corps world's desire to see some of the best drum corps in the world right here in central Pennsylvania.
With that, I applaud Five Star Brass Production's stance in that they refused to take the typical big corporation stance of over charging the public for entertainment. I applaud them for maintaining their values and for keeping those of the drum corps fan base in the forefront of their negotiating position. I respect all of their efforts on behalf of those of us that love the activity. At the same time, I abhor the Hershey position. I abhor that money is so much at the forefront of their very existence. I abhor much of what they have grown to become; Hershey Park happy? I don't think so. From parking fees to the cost of ANY entertainment associated with the Hershey name. . .well, as the price goes up, I can tell you how little I have gone to Hershey for any entertainment. And I can now tell you how much less I will go.
Shame on you Hershey. Would it have been so bad to allow this event? No, it might've even been historic!