Las Cruces Country Music Festival ends after 7 years due to financial concerns
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- Citing diminishing profits, the Las Cruces Country Music Festival will not return in 2020.
"Due to rising entertainer fees and a trend of dwindling ticket sales over the past couple years, Visit Las Cruces has decided to hang up its cowboy hat," a news release by the city stated.
“When the festival first started, it was a unique music experience in the area,” wrote interim Visit Las Cruces executive director Rochelle Miller-Hernandez.
The city also cited a rise in the number of similar country music festivals across the southwest.
“We feel that we have reached the lifespan of this endeavor," wrote Miller-Hernandez
According to Visit Las Cruces:
- In 2019, the city budgeted approximately $620,000 for the entire festival
- In 2019, there were 15 artists: 7 Main Stage, 8 local stage
- In 2019, the total cost for all performers was approximately $260,000
- Ticket Sales Figures (Paid tickets including VIP, Daily and Weekend passes)
- 2016: 3,912
- 2017: 4,460
- 2018: 4,716
- 2019: 2,744
Last year, country music star Gretchen Wilson was kicked out of her hotel after management called 911. She called on Las Cruces to boycott the hotel.
She tweeted in October 2019:
“Was a guest in Las Cruces NM yest & had a blast w/ the people there. However, you should all band together to put Hotel Encanto out of business. Had to wait 2 hrs for breakfast. Then they sent police to kick me out in the middle of the night for no reason. I complied. Home early.”
