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Challenging weather due to Hurricane Isabel brought eight days of rain to the 17-day Eastern State Exposition (The Big E), held in West Springfield, Massachusetts, this year, resulting in a 10.5% drop in attendance. The final attendance tally was 1,042,846, compared with 1,165,224 last year. People did attend the fair on the days when the weather cooperated. The six New England states involved in The Big E are Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. New to the fair this year was 20th Century Headlines, a new exhibit in the ground's Young Building. The exhibit featured 115 framed original national newspaper front pages noting historic events.

Reports on the installation of automated teller machines around the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts as of April 2002. Benefits from the installation of machines; Remarks from fairground controller businessman Jim Gallerani on the issue; Amount of surcharge on each transaction.

Reports on the arrest of those who attended the May 27, 2000 radio festival at Foxboro stadium in Massachusetts. Offenses of those who were arrested; Alternative bands that performed; Band that is scheduled to perform on June 30, 2000 at the stadium.

Reports on a financing plan proposed by the Boston Red Sox team for a Fenway Park to be located across Yawkey Way in Boston, Massachusetts. Estimated cost of the stadium; Significance of the plans if approved; Terms stated in the baseball team's proposal.

Discusses the construction of a stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Features of the facility; Expected opening of the stadium; Sources of the funds for the construction.

Announces the cancellation of concert dates of the Ruff Ryders/Cash Money after an incident that happened at FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. Comments from Jim Delaney, public relations director of the FleetCenter; Casualties of the incident; How to prepare for any concert.

John Wenzell, vp and general manager of FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, site of the July 26-29 Democratic National Convention, compares it to hosting the Super Bowl. However, unlike the NFL's big game, money and prestige are hardly the motivating factors for getting involved with such a booking. In addition to having the required facilities and infrastructure — things like a convention center with a major arena attached or nearby and hotels in the vicinity — the ultimate deciding factor in landing a convention is the strength of the local organizing effort and the ability to raise private funds.

Stanley J. Mordarsky, 55, was flung to his death on May 1 when he came out of the lead car on the Superman Ride of Steel heading into the final curve at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts. Soon after the accident, Massachusetts sought— and Six Flags New England agreed— to implement a state-approved fix on the restraints of the Superman ride, which is made by Intamin AG. The Sandusky amusement park will no longer bend the rules for guests of "exceptional size" who want to ride Millennium Force or Top Thrill Dragster.

Good weather boosted attendance at the 178th annual Topsfield, Massachusetts, Fair this year by 6% to just fewer than 200,000. General manager Alvin Craig said the fair was a good one. He cited the weather, a strong carnival midway provided for the 53rd straight year by Fiesta Shows of Seabrook, New Hampshire, and a strong lineup of entertainment for bringing the crowds to the fair, held October 4-13. Also helping attendance was the third annual Topsfield Night, when the fair administration and Dean and Flynn's Fiesta Shows teamed up for an $8 pay-one-price event. It celebrated the 53rd anniversary of Fiesta Shows at the fair and the 353rd anniversary of the town of Topsfield.

Noreen Tassinari, director of marketing for the Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, Massachusetts, has been with the fair for 24 years and in her current office since 1990. The corner office, which measures about 12 feet by 12 feet, has two windows, one overlooking the coliseum and the second one overlooking the front gate. One of Tassinari's favorite mementos is a collection of vintage photographs of the fair. The photographs were rescued from a life of obscurity in a file drawer in 1996 by Tassinari, and were framed. Other favorite mementos include a part of Tassinari's cow collection, including a squeezable "stress cow," pictures of her sons, Matthew and Michael, and a lot of books.

Gillette Shows, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is having a decent year despite more than two months of constant rain. Gillette Shows, in existence since 1947, carries 30 rides and attractions. The show goes out for 26 weeks, stopping at 24 festivals and fairs in parts of New York and New England. Betty Gillette's late husband, Jules, and his brother, Arthur, who has also passed away, started the show. Jules and his wife, Denise, have a son, Jules, 6, and a daughter, Rachel, 3. The carnival plays as one unit although the show never sets up all the rides except at the Cumberland County Fair, Maine. The fair route has been the same for 30 years, from the Fourth of July to Columbus Day weekend, in New York, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Toddlers and young children will be a targeted demographic for the first time at Spooky World in Foxboro, Massachusetts, with the addition of the new $400,000, four-acre Boston Halloweenfest area. The new buildout will feature characters from Disney, Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network, all of which are major sponsors of the park this year. The park will also feature nightly ghost story reading with celebrity guests, including Elvira, Linda Blair, Alice Cooper, and cast members from the Sopranos. In addition to the actors in the haunted houses, the park employs another 100 people to walk the grounds.

The Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, will introduce a new touring exhibit to fairs called 20th Century Headlines, in the ground's Young Building in 2003. The exhibit, which will feature 115 framed original national newspaper covers depicting historic events, will cover 5,600 square feet of the 48,000-square-foot building. The attraction will also include a retail shop at theconclusion of the exhibit. The exhibit has the capability to show as many as 550 covers depicting important events from 1900 to 2001. Puffs would remain as signature food item for the fair in 2003 season.

Reports on an increase in the overall attendance at the Barnstable County Fair run by Fun-O-Rama/Rockwell Amusements in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Total attendance; Information on grants provided by the fair; Revenue of the fair in 2002.

Reports on the number of those who attended the 2001 Marshfield Fair in Marshfield, Massachusetts. Reason for the rise in attendance; Most popular entertainment at the fair; Admission system.

Features the Eastern States Exposition (Big E) in West Springfield, Massachusetts in 2000. Changes in the fair; Number of Mardi Gras Floats added; Entrance fee for the fair; List of New England states involved in the Big E.

Reports that CMGI Inc., an Internet company, has acquired naming rights for the football stadium of the New England Patriots football team in Foxboro, Massachusetts from The Kraft Corporation. Value of the acquisition deal; Terms under the deal; Features of the footfall stadium; Plan of CMGI to integrate their Internet applications in the facilities of the stadium.

Focuses on the Spring Fair in Foxboro, Massachusetts in 2000. Total spending for radio and print ads for the fair; Estimated attendance for the fair; Fair hours.

Highlights the 40th convention of the National Association for Campus Activities at the Heinz Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts on February 16-20, 2000. Information on the not-for-profit association; Activities included in the four-day event; Educational session topics to be discussed.