A conservative festival in Kentucky featuring Kid Rock was canceled after only six VIP tickets were sold. The event, called Patriots Day Freedom Fest, was scheduled for Saturday in northern Kentucky. Organizers planned to use the money from VIP sales to fund the free gathering. The lack of ticket sales forced the cancellation. Eric Deters, the organizer, confirmed the news on Monday.
Deters told the Washington Examiner that he expected to sell 100 VIP tickets at $1,000 each. He said he could not pay for the event without that specific funding. The festival was supposed to feature speakers like Dog the Bounty Hunter and Rep. James Comer. USA Today reported the list of speakers included Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha. The plan failed before the gates could open.
Deters blamed the lack of sales on financial issues rather than a lack of support for the movement. He stated that the people he usually interacts with simply could not afford the tickets this time. He criticized the wealthy donors who failed to step up during the fundraising push. “I want to tell you something, rich people, as a whole, suck,” Deters said. The organizer insisted the crowd still supports President Trump despite the financial shortfall.
The Washington Times noted that the event was meant to be free for general attendees. The VIP package was the only way to generate revenue for the festival. Deters pushed back against rumors that the cancellation was due to safety concerns. He posted photos from previous years to show that past crowds were packed. He argued that the current economic climate made it impossible to reach his goal.
This failure highlights a major disconnect between conservative leaders and their base. Many people feel they are asked to give money they do not have. The organizer’s plan relied on a small group of wealthy individuals who did not show up. It is frustrating to see events planned with such high hopes and then collapse. The conservative community needs to learn from this mistake before it happens again.
Deters made it clear that he is done with this type of event forever. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever participate in this event again. Ever, Deters said. His frustration is understandable given the effort he put into the planning. However, the result leaves many supporters feeling let down and skeptical of future promises. The movement must find a better way to fund its gatherings.
