- December 21, 2024
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The St. Armands Circle Association and the city of Sarasota came to a compromise: Car shows can return to the Circle.
Following the announcement that popular car shows, like Corvettes on the Circle, would not be allowed to continue due to city regulations, members of the association were quick to try to find a solution, according to Director of Sales & Marketing for St. Armands Circle Association Rachel Burns.
Burns said the association was informed by the city in November 2023 that due to concerns over the landscaping and aesthetics of the park, cars would not be allowed to enter the grassy areas of the Circle. This meant that car shows would have to be moved to the Boulevard of the Presidents.
Moving the shows to that area would cost a lot more, according to Burns. After reaching out to many car shows, she realized the increase in cost and change of location meant the car clubs would not be able to hold events in 2024.
“There was a lot of concern on our end,” Burns said. “It’s not just that a Corvette show or a car show would end, it would be that the actual landscape of special events on St. Armands Circle would be affected long term.
Burns fielded numerous phone calls and emails from merchants and residents about the issue, most of whom were in full support of keeping the shows.
The association sent out a survey to merchants in February to get input as well. Of the 69 answers, 67 merchants said they wanted special events to continue on the Circle.
St. Armands Circle Association Board members Casey Gonzmart, Andrew Vac, Rick Konsavage and Hugh Fiore met with City Manager Marlon Brown and city staff members from parks and recreation on March 1.
On the city’s side, the concern was the potential for damage.
“But for us, (there was) potentially a huge loss of tourism to the area, a loss of money going to local charities, a loss of lifestyle for the residents and the Sarasota community,” Burns said.
In the compromise, the city is requiring the association to work with staff members to create new measures to prevent damage and ensure the longevity of the park.
There will be some more behind-the-scenes changes, but nothing that will affect the guest experience, according to Burns.
Another component of the compromise was creating the option for a rain date, which was never a formal process according to Burns. There were informal rules, but nothing that spelled out an actual process for dealing with a rain date.
“It was great to see that we were able to come to this compromise,” Burns said.
The agreement between the St. Armands Circle Association and City of Sarasota is a temporary solution, according to Jan Thornburg, communications general manager for the City of Sarasota.
Certain shows would be allowed to continue in 2024, and following that the City will reevaluate the condition of the grass to decide the long-term future of car shows on the Circle, Thornburg said in an emailed statement.
Thornburg also added that a part of the compromise is for the St. Armands Circle Association to work with parks and recreation to implement a hardscape entrance for the car shows.
With a compromise set, Burns said car shows are allowed to continue in 2024. But on short notice, it might be too late for some, like Corvettes on the Circle, to continue.
Allen Harmsen, vice president and show chairman for the Skyway Corvette Club of Sarasota and Manatee, said Burns informed him of the decision, but it might be too late for them to pull the event together this year.
“There are a few new stipulations plus some changes that are being made to St. Armands Circle to help with loading cars on and off the turf,” Harmsen said in an email. “As a result, it may be a few more months to determine whether or not we can reschedule the show for later this year or just plan on returning in 2025.”
In early January, Harmsen reached out to the St. Armands Association to start preparations for the Corvettes on the Circle show. That’s when he found out about the city’s previous decision to not allow car shows any longer.
The show, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023, is usually held on the first Saturday of May every year. Compared to most other car shows held in parking lots, Harmsen said Corvettes on the Circle was renowned for its scenic location.
After Harmsen heard about the city’s decision in January, he informed participants from the last five years that the show would not continue in 2024.
Corvettes on the Circle is also a charity event. The proceeds from registration fees went toward The Honor Flight of West Central Florida, which flies World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. As of 2023, the club had sponsored 30 veterans.
Clarification: Jan Thornburg's comments were added to provide additional context to the compromise.
