WINNEMUCCA - It was even better than Kim Petersen had hoped.
After gambling that a big-name concert could rally the Tri-County Fair & Stampede's annual Labor Day weekend, Petersen certainly felt like he was in the chips Friday.
"Our Jake Owen ticket sales are off to a fantastic start," he said.
Ticket sales for the country music star's concert planned for 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at the Winnemucca Event Center, opened at 12:01 a.m. last Wednesday morning.
By 10 p.m. Thursday night, 102 people had purchased 316 tickets; the facility will hold about 2,600 people.
As of Monday morning, 172 people had purchased 591, leaving 2,091 tickets left for purchase.
"We are very pleased that the community is stepping up to support this event," said the director of the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority. "I want to thank all of those that purchased tickets so early for this event."
He quipped, "I also suggest that anyone wanting to go should get their tickets now before they are gone!"
Ticket buyers range from Rifle, Colo., to Round Mountain, Golconda, Orovada, Paradise Valley, Reno, Elko, Spring Creek and Battle Mountain. The majority of sales, 273 tickets, have come from Winnemucca.
Petersen hopes the momentum will continue, especially after his agency begins a planned advertising campaign. "So far, we've only used Facebook and word of mouth," he said, "so I have high hopes that we can keep these sales up."
Jake Owen was originally working toward a promising golfing career when he was derailed by a terrible waterskiing accident, resulting in major reconstructive surgery.
Off the golf team and struggling with depression, Owen borrowed a neighbor's guitar and passed time teaching himself to play by listening to childhood favorites like Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Vern Gosdin and Keith Whitley.
Ambitious but inexperienced, with good looks and a smooth baritone, Owen could next be found playing country covers in campus bars for free beer and a few bucks. Soon growing tired of covers, he began penning his own songs, a move that eventually landed him a contract with Sony/BMG Nashville.
His debut album, "Startin' with Me," appeared in summer 2006 on RCA, spearheaded by the single "Yee Haw." "Easy Does It" followed in February of 2009. He delivered his third album, "Barefoot Blue Jean Night," in the summer of 2011.
Billy Dean will open for Owen in Winnemucca. Dean first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition "Star Search." Active as a recording artist since 1990, he has recorded a total of eight studio albums (of which the first three have been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America) and a greatest hits package which is also certified gold.
His studio albums have accounted for more than 20 hit singles on the Billboard country charts, including 11 Top Ten hits.
"This is a big deal for Winnemucca to have this level of talent," said Petersen, who said his agency is reaching out to sponsors to help assure the event's success.
Petersen said he's also hoping the concert will help bolster attendance at the annual Labor Day Rodeo. That event will see a few changes this year to accommodate the weekend's new lineup including an earlier start time - 3 p.m. - and an old, familiar venue: the outdoor arena at the Winnemucca Events Complex.
Petersen said rodeo tickets are also available online at the same venue as the concert tickets.
"We're hoping that people will see this as a package deal," he said. "We encourage people to come early for the rodeo and concert and enjoy the fair exhibits, food and to find a good parking space."
Petersen added that if the concert is a success, big-name entertainment will become an annual part of the Labor Day event.
"You won't want to miss this show," he said. "It's going to be a great night."
Tickets for the Jake Owen concert as well as the Labor Day Rodeo are now on sale at www.winnemucca.com.
For more information, please call the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority at (775) 623-5071 or (800) 962-2638.
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