New Year's Eve celebrations across Middle Tennessee are being scaled back or even canceled this year, a final ignominious ending to an economically disastrous year.
"Consumers are either (financially) strapped or are saving cash because they aren't sure what's going to happen next year," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the New York-based Luxury Institute, a research organization. Consumers are watching their purchases, and "certainly what's expendable is champagne and New Year's Eve parties," Pedraza said.
Fewer people purchased concert tickets to attend Sommet Center's annual New Year's Eve bash, causing the cancellation of the event. Tickets for the concert featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd and Trace Adkins ranged from $49.50 to $250 each.
"There is no denying that our core audience has been financially challenged by the hard realities of a flattened economy," Steve Moore of MEG/AEG Live said in a statement. Moore said the company would work to bring the concert back next year "to a better market environment."
Meanwhile, a New Year's Eve fundraiser for Montgomery State Bell Park is seeing slower ticket sales for a $175 couples package that includes admission, champagne toast and breakfast, as well as overnight accommodations, said Dana Stein, secretary for the group Friends of Montgomery Bell State Park.
So far, the group has sold 30 packages, but that is only about a break-even amount with the event's costs, Stein said. Ticket sales "are going pretty slow," Stein said. "We have really seen how the economy has really been hitting people."
At Sambuca restaurant on 12th Avenue South, administrative assistant Dawn Kote said she's hopeful that New Year's Eve reservations will sell out before the day arrives. Late last week, the restaurant was 75 percent booked for its late-night seating, with even more tables available for the early shift around 7-7:30 p.m.
"We're keeping our head above water," Kote said. "We are just so thankful for everything we get."
Meanwhile, some other venues have started selling discounted tickets earlier than usual for their New Year's Eve bashes, including the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, which will host four parties this year. The hotel started selling some less-expensive tickets in November without requiring a hotel stay as part of its party package. In past years, those bargain sales usually didn't start until just a couple of days before New Year's Eve.
"We knew that there would be more people who are price sensitive," said Amy Atkinson, vice president of marketing and public relations.
Partygoers cut backIn the past, Scott Harris, 37, a director of marketing for Brentwood-based ForeFront Golf, would dress up and attend elaborate New Year's Eve parties at places including Gaylord Opryland. But after the recession hit, Harris and his wife started a new tradition that will continue this year: going to their in-laws' house for New Year's because it's cheaper.
"Now, it's jeans and a sweatshirt as opposed to much fancier attire," Harris said.
But even parties at home are being scaled back.
Mike Pardue, 57, said he's asking his 10 family members to bring finger foods to his annual New Year's Eve party. In years past, he and his wife would buy most of the food and drinks for the party.
Pardue is the president of UAW Local 1832, which represents the union members at the Peterbilt truck plant in Madison. Those workers have been locked out of the plant since June.
"My plans are to stay at home and be thankful for what we got and hope we have better days," Pardue said. "You got to make the best of a bad situation, and we are definitely in a bad situation."
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