Arts, Beats & Eats is moving to Royal Oak

[sg9018]

The Metro Detroit festival is moving from Pontiac to Royal Oak in 2010.Pontiac wanted a $100,000 fee from the festival to host.
Link to story,
http://www.freep.com/article/2009120...e-to-Royal-Oak
The Map for the festival,
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/m...rams=Id=148145

Arts, Beats & Eats festival set to move to Royal Oak
BY BILL LAITNER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
It’s official: The Arts, Beats & Eats festival that for the last 12 years was in Pontiac will move in 2010 to Royal Oak.

At an announcement celebration this afternoon at Sangria restaurant in Royal Oak, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson predicted that the event would draw 450,000 people next year – exactly double the attendance reported in Pontiac over the four-day Labor Day weekend event this year.
“I’m not here at all to cast any aspersions on Pontiac,� Patterson said. “The people there are really crestfallen� about losing the festival to Royal Oak.

[Bobl]

I'll still be spending my time at the Jazz Festival. More room to roam. Detroit River view. More musical talent. No entrance fee.

[xphillipjrx]

It's going to be huge.

[1KielsonDrive]

Last time I ever go.

[1KielsonDrive]

ABE moves to RO. It's called kicking 'em when they're down.

[Bearinabox]

So Pontiac's leadership would rather lose the festival than lower their fee? Am I missing something, or are they just that stupid?

[1KielsonDrive]

So Pontiac's leadership would rather lose the festival than lower their fee? Am I missing something, or are they just that stupid?

Do you know the details? If so, let us in on them. Otherwise, you're just assuming the ABE is correct in moving. I'm not willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

[Bearinabox]

Do you know the details? If so, let us in on them. Otherwise, you're just assuming the ABE is correct in moving. I'm not willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I'm not sure what you mean by "assuming the ABE is correct in moving." The relevant point is, they are moving, and this quote from the original post implies that they're moving because Pontiac's fee was too high.

The Metro Detroit festival is moving from Pontiac to Royal Oak in 2010.Pontiac wanted a $100,000 fee from the festival to host.

If it's true that Pontiac demanded such a fee, and if it's also true that the fee was the impulse for moving the festival, then maybe the city of Pontiac should have tried to negotiate a price that was acceptable to ABE's organizers instead of just letting the festival slip away.

[luckycar]

They are just that stupid.We have now hit bottom.I saw roll-off boxes being hauled away from the old Fisher Body/Pontiac /Fiero plant on Baldwin yesterday.Maybe they are starting to get rid of it all."I may be lying in the gutter,but I'm looking up at the stars."

[Sec106]

Even more of a reason not to go, we,ll be enjoying the Jazz Fest just like every year.

[casscorridor]

Moving to Royal Joke? One less reason to go to Arts, Beats and Eats, one more reason to go to City Fest.

[dtowncitylover]

Moving to Royal Joke? One less reason to go to Arts, Beats and Eats, one more reason to go to City Fest.

Really? Royal Joke? Really? What is this, 1975? Royal Oak is a good location for ABE. It has a viable downtown whose businesses will do well when ABE happens, unlike Pontiac. ABE is just the suburban response to CityFest, and there's nothing wrong with that. I think it being in Pontiac would be one less reason to go to ABE.

[rb336]

Really? Royal Joke? Really? What is this, 1975? Royal Oak is a good location for ABE. It has a viable downtown whose businesses will do well when ABE happens, unlike Pontiac. ABE is just the suburban response to CityFest, and there's nothing wrong with that. I think it being in Pontiac would be one less reason to go to ABE.

i can't see it in RO. Where? at least in pontiac you had phoenix center for decent bands. it will be lame and annoying as hell for anyone who lives there.

[bailey]

i can't see it in RO. Where? at least in pontiac you had phoenix center for decent bands. it will be lame and annoying as hell for anyone who lives there.

..I know right? These things are always better held in desolated and virtually vacant downtowns and on top of parking structures so as not to bother anyone.

[sirrealone]

i can't see it in RO. Where? at least in pontiac you had phoenix center for decent bands. it will be lame and annoying as hell for anyone who lives there.

Here's a map: Link

I personally don't like the move at all. I've gone to the festival in Pontiac every year since it first opened. I've always had a great time, and in fact in 2003 I met the woman that is now my wife. It's led me to go to places in Pontiac that weekend and at other times that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. Do businesses in Royal Oak really need any more promotion and businesses in Pontiac need less? It makes me shake my head when some of the same people that fiercely support Detroit will say negative things about Pontiac, when the fact is that both cities need the buzz that festivals like ABE and JazzFest provide.

[Zacha341]

LOL! I was thinking that too. They best stop that bullet Amtrak that goes thru RO that day lest someone drunk wander too close and get their sketchers, or milano shoes ripped off the back of their heels....!

OH! And where to PARK!? Royal Oak is going to make a killing financially in parking tickets and over the limit parking meters. I think I'll catch the Smart bus if I go!

i can't see it in RO. Where? at least in pontiac you had phoenix center for decent bands. it will be lame and annoying as hell for anyone who lives there.

[1KielsonDrive]

Moving to Royal Joke? One less reason to go to Arts, Beats and Eats, one more reason to go to City Fest.

Uh, huh. Right on.

[1KielsonDrive]

Even more of a reason not to go, we,ll be enjoying the Jazz Fest just like every year.

Yay! Yay! Yay!

[gnome]

I'm sure you'll be missed.

[NoHeartAnthony]

So you'd rather go to the festival while it's in Pontiac [[farther), than in Royal Oak [[closer)? They're both evil suburbs, who cares?

[1KielsonDrive]

So you'd rather go to the festival while it's in Pontiac [[farther), than in Royal Oak [[closer)? They're both evil suburbs, who cares?

RO isn't necessarily evil, but it is boring and fairly stereotypical.

[dtowncitylover]

RO isn't necessarily evil, but it is boring and fairly stereotypical.

Boring? What makes Pontiac so exciting? ABE is all they had. Stereotypical? I'm not so sure. We've been labeled as the "yuppie" place. All I see in Royal Oak, where I live, is older people and families all up and down the blocks. Sorry Royal Oak is not your typical suburb like Livonia or Warren.

[pffft]

$3 to walk around public streets, see local cover bands and oh, maybe Morris Day and the Time, plus lots of crafts booths.

Free to walk around the jazz festival downtown, enjoy the architecture and world class musicians. Hard to choose...

[dtowncitylover]

$3 to walk around public streets, see local cover bands and oh, maybe Morris Day and the Time, plus lots of crafts booths.

Free to walk around the jazz festival downtown, enjoy the architecture and world class musicians. Hard to choose...

The only difference between ABE and CityFest is the location. The only difference between ABE and Jazz Fest is the music. Other than that all three have the exact same food and art booths. I can easily go downtown/New Center and see the great architecture on any other day. I don't see why some of us are upset that ABE has moved to Royal Oak. ABE is just the suburban alternative to CityFest.

[DetroitZack]

Sucks for Pontiac, unless I am going to the zoo you won't catch me in Royal Oak.