FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2003
SUMMER CONCERTS AT BRADLEY FAIR
CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN RECORD CROWDS
Stores & Restaurants Report Increased Sales
During Concert Events
(WICHITA, KS) – Building awareness, sales and generating goodwill are just a
few of the benefits of the Bradley Fair Summer Concerts, soon to
enter their fifth season at Wichita’s first and only lifestyle
center. Area residents and visitors look forward to the mix of
national, regional and local talent that takes the stage Friday
nights from June through August at Bradley Fair’s scenic lakeside
plaza.
Located at Rock Road & 21st
Street along the city’s major retail corridor and near the K96
expressway, Bradley Fair and its summer concerts are positioned
for regional tourism. With approximately 4,000 in attendance per
concert, 15%-20% come from outside Wichita to shop, dine and enjoy
live music in the open-air setting.
Center’s Merchants Enjoy Additional Traffic
The center’s retail and restaurants have benefited through immediate
sales. According to George E. Laham, II, developer of Bradley
Fair and president of Laham Development, merchants have reported
between $2,500-$5,000 additional sales within a 4-6 hour period
on concert evenings.
Guests begin congregating in the Plaza area as
early as 3 p.m. By 8 p.m. when the concert starts, spectators are
shoulder to shoulder across the 12,000-sq. ft. Plaza, along the
lake, and across the water on Bradley Fair lake’s east banks. Additional
patio seating is available overlooking the Plaza at Cibola restaurant
where guests enjoy fine dining and beverage service throughout
the concert. Around 10 p.m. when the concerts typically end, the
center’s popular restaurants, including YiaYia’s Eurobistro, Romano’s
Macaroni Grill, Redrock Canyon Grill and Cibola, receive post-concert
traffic.
Media Partners Add Promotional Value
Bradley Fair has engaged two major media sponsors to promote the concerts.
Its radio partner, Clear Channel Radio, supports the concerts through its
popular Wichita area early morning team, B98-FM’s Brett & Tracy
Morning Show. With on-air banter throughout the week and an in-studio interview
each Friday with Bradley Fair’s marketing director, the concerts receive
valuable mentions in conjunction with a paid commercial schedule which runs
on Clear Channel’s other Wichita market stations as well. Brett Harris is
emcee for the concerts.
In addition to the radio promotion, a 4-color
insert is also distributed prior to the concerts in The Wichita
Eagle, the market’s only daily newspaper. Articles and listings
also run in the Eagle’s Friday GO! section, alerting readers of
the weekly event.
4th Season Featured Jazz, Fusion, Gospel, Hip-Hop,
Latin & Caribbean Beats
With three previous successes under its belt, the 2003 concert season began
on Friday, June 13 with Dallas-based Linny Nance & The
Network, a 4-piece funk band featuring keyboards, drums, guitar and bass. Additional
2003 acts included:
Friday, June 20 - Swing Daddies. A Wichita-based
7-member swing band with influences from Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
and Louis Jordan, Swing Daddies offers drums, guitar, upright bass
and a variety of horns including flugel, clarinet, saxophone, and
trumpet.
Friday, June 27 - Ida McBeth. One of Kansas City’s
most celebrated artists, Ida McBeth’s varied repertoire includes
jazz, pop, blues, soul and gospel. Ida was named “Best Female Vocalist”
for four consecutive years at the Kansas City/Lawrence Area Music
Awards.
Friday, July 4 - Heat Index. This Kansas City group
has a passion for music that carries listeners to the dance floor
with classic R&B, funk grooves, swing and Latin-flavored jazz. Along with the music, a spectacular
aerial fireworks display lit up the skies over Bradley Fair lake.
Friday, July 11 - Grady Nichols. With four CDs and
nationwide radio play, Grady Nichols and his saxophone personify
today’s hip Smooth Jazz using elements of jazz, reggae, Latin,
blues and gospel.
Friday, July 18 - Sol Y Sombra. Sol Y Sombra features
a variety of exhilarating Latin styles including bombas, meringues
and boleros while mixing in roots of Puerto Rican salsa and hot
Latin rhythm with fiery brass and upbeat percussion.
Friday, July 25 - BKS Featuring Miss Baby Lee.
Formerly of San Francisco, now based in Kansas City, Miss Baby
Lee and BKS have become one of KC’s hippest, hottest, and entertaining
young jazz bands.
Friday, Aug. 1 - Afinké Machine. Innovative steel-pan
music with an assembly of talented musicians, Afinké Machine is
a fusion of jazz, funk, R&B, hip-hop, rock, gospel, Latin and Caribbean beats. -more-
p. 4/Bradley Fair Summer Concerts
Friday, Aug. 8 - Angela Haganbach. Sultry vocals
with soulful flavors of jazz, swing and blues, seasoned by Brazilian
and Italian influences. A Kansas City native, Angela has been compared
to Norah Jones, Diana Krall and Sadé.
A project of Laham Development Company, Bradley
Fair opened in November 1990 and began its final 85,000-sq. ft.
expansion in the summer of 2000 that included Bed Bath & Beyond, Pier 1 Imports and Redrock Canyon Grill. The completion and opening
of Ultimate Electronics in October leaves only one 8,000-sq. ft.
parcel, currently under construction, located in front of Bed Bath & Beyond. When complete, the expansion will bring the center to 255,000-sq. ft.
As Wichita’s only lifestyle center, Bradley Fair
offers a blend of local, regional and national retail concepts
that currently includes eight restaurants and 39 stores. Among
the focal points of the center is a scenic open-air plaza that
hosts a variety of community and charitable events including concerts
and fireworks displays. The plaza area features a year-round fountain,
two island waterfalls, a lake, extensive landscaping and tiered
seating.
Bradley Fair’s project architect is Shelden Architecture.
J.P. Weigand & Sons is exclusive leasing agent for the center and Fidelity Bank provides financing
for all Bradley Fair projects. All are Wichita companies. |
