DES MOINES – Iowa State Fairgoers may continue to use their favorite form of payment for their purchases at this year’s Fair.
The Iowa State Fair Board decided this week that they will not implement a mandatory cashless payment system at the 2014 Fair. Instead, they will continue to investigate future implementation of a more progressive system that will eliminate Fairgoers’ concerns of the inconvenience of paper tickets and long lines, improve the concessionaires’ reporting system and accommodate the Fair’s infrastructure.
The Fair Board on Tuesday declared it was going to a ticket-based payment system starting at the 2014 fair. The backlash from the public was swift and harsh, leading to the change of course by the board.
I don’t understand all the backlash. To me if they went cashless isn’t that big of a deal. The tickets never expire and it is just like buying tickets for the midway or a beer garden. The argument is people complaining about the unknown, possibly having to wait in long lines to buy the tickets. However with the purposed, was it 120 ticket booths, and the ability to buy tickets in advance online the wait can be minimal. The only problem here is people’s fear of change and our “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality. The system may not be broke, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try to improve it.
Fantastic news.