FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 2, 2003
Contact Patrick Tremblay, ptremblay@asomf.org (910) 483-3003 ext. 229
ASOM – WE DID WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO
FAYETTEVILLE, NC. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum (ASOM) is rapidly approaching its third anniversary and has some amazing numbers to share. “We started out with some very definite goals for our first three years,” says Sandy Klotz, Executive Director of the museum Foundation. “We did what we set out to do, and we want the people of Fayetteville and Ft. Bragg to know it.” Klotz adds, “The museum’s success is a direct result of everyone in both communities working extremely hard, and we have all earned the right to be proud of our museum.”
ATTENDANCE
“The single most impressive number we can put up, and the one that drives many
of our other successes, is our attendance,” says Klotz. With the third anniversary
over a month and a half away, the museum will pass the 600,000 visitor mark
this week. “Economic impact projections that were made long before the museum
opened were based on 200,000 visitors a year. We’ve been able to average well
above that mark.” In addition to the 600,000 daily visitors, nearly 18,000 people
have visited after hours, most as part of private events held at the museum.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
The museum recently conducted a major economic impact study based upon visitation
numbers and visitor surveys, as well as numbers gathered from the International
Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus and the NC Department of Tourism,
Sports and Film Development. “It’s important that the local community hears
these numbers,” says Klotz. “They may be aware that we’re experiencing a certain
degree of success, but may not realize how that translates into helping the
local economy.” Last year visitors to the museum contributed $6.6 million to
the local economy through lodging, shopping, food and other expenses. The tax
impact alone was over $450 thousand, with nearly $200 thousand of that being
local taxes. The local impact goes beyond direct dollars, too. According to
the City of Fayetteville, property values downtown have increased by 232% since
construction began on the ASOM.
GENERATING REVENUE
The ASOM charges no admission, instead support is raised through gift shop sales,
tickets to ride the Pitch, Roll & Yaw Motion Simulator and see the movie
Descending from the Clouds, as well as traditionalfundraising efforts such as
a memorial paver stone sales and donation boxes. All of these efforts have been
extremely successful for the museum. Through the first three years, the simulator
and movie have combined ticket sales of over $500 thousand. The gift shop has
racked up nearly $2 million in sales. And the donation boxes have brought in
over $200 thousand, made up primarily of one and five dollar bills.
POSITIVE PUBLICITY
The museum has garnered over $1.75 million in media coverage, including national
television, radio and print stories, as well as state and regional coverage.
Each of these stories increases awareness of Fayetteville and Ft. Bragg in addition
to the ASOM. All of these articles serve to draw additional visitors to the
museum, insuring continued success. On top of this incredible free positive
media coverage, a strong marketing plan has been refined to further spread awareness
through print, radio, television and outdoor advertising.
VOLUNTEERS
It’s fitting that the first people to work on the museum were volunteers. The
museum relies heavily on the ninety currently registered volunteers for daily
operations. “For the staff, the volunteers are still the most incredible part
of the place.” Klotz says that over 50,000 volunteer hours have been contributed
since opening. But that’s just the registered volunteers, who greet and work
with visitors, help with administrative tasks and in the collections department.
“This doesn’t include our all-volunteer Board of Directors, many of whom have
been associated with the museum since it was just an idea. They easily add thousands
of hours more.”
THE ARTIFACTS
It wouldn’t be a museum without uniforms, equipment, personal items and photographs
that support the story being told. Dr. John Duvall, Museums Chief for Ft. Bragg,
says, “with a history that covers only just the past 63 years, we are acutely
aware that these aren’t so much historical items that are being given to us,
they are the donors’ prized possessions, often representing the most harrowing,
triumphant or meaningful moments of their lives.” Over 5 thousand items are
now part of the museum’s collection, a number that grows daily. “We’re lucky,”
says Duvall, “in most cases we can collect not only the items, but also the
incredible stories that elevate them to historically significant artifacts.”
THE MUSEUM
Located at 100 Bragg Boulevard in downtown Fayetteville, the Airborne &
Special Operations Museum is part of the U.S. Army Museum System and tells the
story of Army airborne and special operations units from 1940 to the present.
Museum hours: 10am – 5 pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays, Noon – 5 pm Sundays.
Closed Monday; open Federal holiday Mondays. Admission is free; there is a charge
for the museum’s exclusive movie, Descending from the Clouds, and the Pitch,
Roll & Yaw Motion Simulator.
Inquiries regarding current Army operations may be directed to the XVIIIth Airborne
Corps and Ft. Bragg Public Affairs Office at (910) 436-5600.
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