Downtown Minneapolis Residents Association
P.O. Box 581492
Minneapolis, MN 55458-1492
(612) 220-3836

December 30, 1995

Twin Cities Ribfest Organizers
Ogden Facility Services
200 S 5th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Dear Organizers:

The Board of Directors of the Downtown Minneapolis Residents Association would like to review with you the concerns we had when we endorsed the move of the event from Block E to the Ritz Block. At that time our main concerns were as follows: noise, security, and adequate rest room facilities for participants. Two additional concerns were raised: First, we wanted everyone involved to acknowledge that Hennepin Avenue was the main entertainment area for downtown Minneapolis and that this location closer to the residential buildings was only temporary. Second, we expressed a concern for the high prices at the event. We felt that it was important for our community that this be an event that families could afford to attend.

After seeing the event for a couple of years in this temporary location, we would like to congratulate you on your efforts concerning noise, security, and adequate facilities. It is our opinion that this is a great event for our neighborhood. However, we do feel you have disregarded our final concern at keeping the event affordable. We have heard many complaints about the event as far as the prices being out line for the average person. We do not want this event to be a "black eye" on our neighborhood. We feel that continuing at these prices could put the event in jeopardy as more and more people become disgruntled. For future events, please consider keeping the down the prices. It would also be helpful for the tickets to be in easy to figure out denominations, such as one dollar each, so that people clearly understood what they were paying for an item. We would like to see this continue to be a fun event for our community.

Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Paul W. Barber
Chair -- Board of Directors
Downtown Minneapolis Residents Association