Scott Olson, The IBJ
solson@ibj.com
The organization that promotes downtown Indianapolis activities said it is disappointed this year's popular Labor Day fireworks program will not be held and is unsure whether another sponsor can be found.
Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications has hosted SkyConcert for the past 26 years, but said Friday it has been unable to gather the financial partners necessary to fund the event.
SkyConcert typically lures an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people to the downtown area.
"This is not news that we want, obviously," said Julia Watson, spokeswoman for Indianapolis Downtown Inc. "We're saddened first and foremost for Emmis Communications. For them to have to come to this point, we know it's not a point that they wanted to reach at all."
The radio broadcasting and magazine publishing company has been struggling lately financially. Earlier this month, Emmis reported a fiscal-year loss of $283.9 million compared with a loss of $10.3 million the previous year.
"In better times, Emmis was able to view this event as a demonstration of the gratitude we felt for our audiences," the company said in a written statement.
Emmis did not say how much it spends on the annual event. Emmis station WLHK-FM 97.1 and Advantage Health last year co-sponsored the fireworks display, which is set to music.
Officials for the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, which promotes SkyConcert on its Web site, declined to comment on the event's cancellation.
Labor Day this year is Sept. 7.