Air show on verge of cancellation, needs "angel investor''

>Posted by Brittany Wallman on March 8, 2010 10:42 AM

The Fort Lauderdale air show that was planned for April 24-25, the promised resurrection of one of South Florida's most popular events, is on the verge of cancellation.

Air show would-be producer Stan Smith said Monday he's run out of time and doesn't have enough money. Only if an "angel'' sponsor materialized Monday or Tuesday could he put it on.

"It's very sad to run out of time,'' Smith said. "Everyone wanted it to happen. It's just that at the end of the day, no one knows how to pay for it.''

Smith said one of the hardships he faced was securing a $1 million bond the city of Fort Lauderdale required. The bond would pay the city its estimated $500,000 to $600,000 in costs, plus pay for any property damage, if Smith couldn't pay. But Smith couldn't get the bond; he'd need someone to co-sign for his new operation.

Smith was trying to bring back the air show made popular by Mickey Markoff. The show ended after a 13-year run in Fort Lauderdale when Markoff lost his key sponsor. Smith's show, Air Lauderdale Beach Fest, would have been smaller and different than Markoff's show.

Smith planned to charge an entry fee at the best viewing locations. And he didn't have the most popular air act, the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds fighter jets that shocked and awed the crowds.
He had enlarged the area where the festival would occur, and planned a Green Village, a Politics Village, a Thank the Troops Zone, live music, et cetera.

I can tell you, because I receive the phone calls here at my desk on a regular basis, quite a few out-of-towners book their vacations around this event.

Smith said he needs to cancel the show now out of fairness to anyone who might spend time or money on the show, only to have it not go off.

"It's heartbreaking,'' he said. "So many people have worked hard.''

Smith had no experience putting on a show of this magnitude. A public relations consultant, he previously worked for H. Wayne Huizenga.

This story is his "final plea to the community.'' He said he needs "less than a million dollars'' but wouldn't say how much, from a title sponsor or a collection of sponsors, to save the show.