State Fair again offers group-sales option

GEDDES, N.Y. — The New York State Fair has a group-sales program that it contends offers organizations and companies a way to provide a “benefit” to large numbers of employees or clients at a “very affordable price.” 

Groups interested in the program have until Aug. 8 to submit their orders, Troy Waffner, acting director the New York State Fair, announced in a Thursday news release.

Under the program, groups of 100 or more can buy tickets in bulk for an added discount beyond the 40 percent savings available on individual-admission tickets purchased in advance, according to a set schedule.

It includes the purchase of 100 to 249 tickets for $5.75 each; 250 to 499 tickets for $5.50 each; 500 to 999 tickets for $5.25 each; 1,000 to 1,999 tickets for $5.00 each; and 2,000 tickets or more for $4.75 each, according to the State Fair.

At the same time, organizations can also order parking passes for $5 apiece; “Best Bets Bargain Book” with State Fair deals for $4 each; and ride-all-day wristbands for the Wade Shows midway for $20 each, the organization added.

The form to place an order is available at http://www.nysfair.org/group-ticket-sales/.

The State Fair in 2013 sold more than 23,000 tickets through its group-sales program, an increase of nearly 5,000 over 2012, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, which operates the State Fair.

For example, Loretto, a network of agencies providing long-term care services for older adults in Central New York, bought 4,000 tickets through the program for its employees, the State Fair said.

“The Fair’s group-sales program helps us to thank our employees for the difficult work they do by offering them discounted admission tickets,” Michele Rita Gotschalk, chair of Loretto’s employee-appreciation committee, said in the State Fair news release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com