Increased Manatee County tourism funds could be use to draw regatta concert to Palmetto

MANATEE -- Members of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council say they are willing to increase sponsorship of the Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta in order draw more people to the Palmetto side of the Manatee River.

TDC funding could increase 14 percent from $175,000 for the inaugural event in February to $200,000 for the 2016 regatta.

Palmetto officials say the additional money could be used to bring a concert to Sutton Park on the day of the regatta to complement the primary Bradenton concert.

Bradenton's musical lineup for the regatta is an all-day event, Last year, hometown favorite Sam Woolf took the stage around 4 p.m. to open up for Jefferson Starship. Palmetto is considering a headline act for earlier in the afternoon.

"At the end of the last TDC meeting, I brought up that both cities are working on the programming to get year two approved, but reminded them that the TDC is a sponsor, not organizers," said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bu

reau. "Even though we are not organizers, I said I was going to stick my nose into what the cities and (Integrated Strategic Marketing) are talking about."

Manatee County and the city of Bradenton have already voted to approve the Feb. 6 regatta and the TDC is expected to recommend another year of sponsorship funding.

Only Palmetto remains undecided and its approval is seen as a necessity to close the Green Bridge for spectator viewing of the races.

Falcione said he has heard Palmetto and may approach the TDC in June to ask for the sponsorship increase. TDC member David Teitelbaum said the idea is strictly conversation at this point, "but generally I believe we would all be in favor. It makes sense."

TDC sponsorship funding is paid to ISM to help cover programming. Falcione said it's not a check to either city, but acknowledged the extra $25,000 would be sought for ISM and Palmetto to work out what kind of programming the city wants besides what ISM President Mike Fetchko is already promising. Fetchko said he wants to cooperate with Palmetto officials, which is why he has partnered with the DeSoto Historical Society.

The DeSoto group has experience with large festivals and events such as the Seafood Festival, also held at Sutton Park, and is working closely with ISM to ensure the north side of the river is equally as lively for the regatta as it was for the 2015 event in Bradenton.

Falcione said all of that can be worked out between the actual organizers. The TDC, he said, believes in the event as one of the primary regatta sponsors.

"It's not like we are writing a check to the city of Palmetto," said Falcione. "We are saying that the TDC believes in this event and an enhanced sponsorship will allow ISM to add programming in Palmetto, but Palmetto needs to coordinate that with ISM."

Falcione said it will help balance the event, but "you only need one person to manage it and that's the programmer working with the community to have a consistent brand in the marketplace."

Falcione said if Palmetto wants a concert, then the answer is: "Yes, the enhanced sponsorship can be used for that if that is what the city and ISM agree to."

Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant said scheduling a Saturday concert in Palmetto is something the city wants. Commissioners are expected to have at least one more discussion on the regatta at its May 4 meeting and Bryant said a vote could be forthcoming soon.

"It's headed in the right direction," Bryant said of the proposed sponsorship enhancement.

Bryant said the city commission will likely remain skeptical until agreements have been reached. She said she plans to meet with Fetchko prior to the city's May 4 commission meeting.

"I'd like to see a vote happen sooner than later," said Bryant. "But there is still a lot of information to gather first."

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter @urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Increased Manatee County tourism funds could be use to draw regatta concert to Palmetto ."