. The Fair

            In 1982, a small town nestled between Music City and the Great Smoky Mountains dared to dream big.  In hosting the 1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, Tennessee established itself as the smallest city to ever host a World’s Fair.  Local politicians, businessmen, and organizers combined efforts to attract over 10 million visitors.  Embraced by the community of Knoxville, the 1982 World’s Fair proved that “Energy Turns The World.” 

            Today, the landmark most associated with the 1982 World’s Fair, The Sunsphere, sits vacant and was ridiculed on the popular TV show The Simpsons.  The World’s Largest Rubik’s Cube, a gift to Knoxville from Hungary, is in a state of disrepair underneath the city overpasses.  And recently Knoxville’s City Council has begun to wrestle with the decision to renovate or destroy the World’s Fair amphitheater. 

            However, as recently evidenced by the successful sale of 1982 World’s Fair apparel, the Knoxville community’s passion for the Fair continues…25 years later.  Former Fair employees, nostalgic grandparents, “Fair Kids,” and World’s Fair enthusiasts have flocked to purchase the updated apparel featuring the original Circle Flame logo.  With each purchase, every buyer has shared not only a smile and a memory, but also an expressed desire to see the 1982 World’s Fair commemorated with a 25^th Anniversary celebration.  The following gives a brief and general overview of ways that this may be accomplished. 

II. The Company

            World’s Fair, LLC (WFL) was formed in November 2006.  Fueled by the passions of his youth, World’s Fair enthusiast Chris King also dared to dream upon learning of the logo’s availability.  This former Director of East Coast Marketing for The Jones Soda Company trademarked the original Circle Flame logo in 2001.  Mr. King is now the Director of the Brand, founder and co-owner of World’s Fair, LLC.

            Chris King is partnered with local businessman, Ronnie Wilson.  As a managing partner of People’s Mortgage, Inc and the President of Park Place Title & Escrow, Mr. Wilson brings the necessary experience involving finance and strategic planning.  Having grown up in Nashville, Mr. Wilson received his M.A. in Economics from the University of Tennessee in 1994 and has called Knoxville home ever since. 

            WFL was established to promote the 25^th Anniversary of the 1982 World’s Fair.  Having ignited a grassroots movement with retail apparel sales, WFL now wish to expand their vision.  By aligning with local businesses, political leaders and community activists, WFL hopes to educate a new Knoxville generation, encourage community oneness, and advance downtown revitalization efforts.  Despite size limitations, WFL seeks to emulate 1982 Knoxville’s courage to be small and dream big! 

III. The Vision

WFL hopes to extend their vision beyond mere apparel sales to greater and longer lasting goals.  This vision was spurred by a love for the community of Knoxville and a desire to see the city prosper.  Ultimately, the WFL believes this simple project could have everlasting, positive effects on Knoxville.

The WFL kiosk in West Town Mall has sold over 1500 shirts to those captivated

by World’s Fair nostalgia.  The kiosk has allowed WFL the opportunity to survey the market as to their interest in future activities commemorating the Fair’s 25^th Anniversary.  The kiosk has also provided WFL a chance to promote their website to a population eager to participate in these potential events. 

General consensus indicates that Knoxville is interested in renovating the World’s Fair amphitheatre and the Rubik’s Cube and WFL believes the latter could also serve as a monument to the Fair.  Street festivals have often proven successful in Knoxville and WFL is confident that a 25^th Anniversary Festival (located in the World’s Fair Park) would be another such case.  The concept of a museum exhibit (hosted at the Convention Center and featuring the collection housed by the University) has sparked enthusiasm from all demographics, but specifically from parents and teachers eager to educate their children and/or students.  However, the very idea of viewing Knoxville from the famed Sunsphere has provoked the greatest fervency with a large portion of consumers saying they would pay in excess of $8 for the opportunity.  Gala events, an internationally flavored summer concert series and a mobile/traveling exhibit also drew positive response.  

Venturing into any of the above endeavors can only serve to draw the community of Knoxville together.  This revitalized community oneness will be a foundation of support for the City of Knoxville.  Currently, the City of Knoxville has suffered from a Market Square scandal and continual road projects.  The public has taken a generally critical stance regarding the City’s downtown and riverfront revitalization efforts.  In addition, Knoxville leaders will soon seek to solicit (private and public) support for the new joint city/county “Housing First” initiative.  WFL believes that a concerted effort on behalf of the City of Knoxville to bring about the celebration of the Fair’s 25^th Anniversary will be the stepping stone the City of Knoxville needs to bring about positive community oneness.

IV. The Next Step 

The strengths of WFL are marketing, creativity and a passion for the Knoxville community.  The grassroots movement originated from the vision of WFL.  However, in order to elevate the vision to a grander scale, capital and experience of a greater magnitude are essential.  Thus, WFL seeks to align with leaders from the public and private sectors that share a similar enthusiasm for Knoxville and the 1982 World’s Fair.

WFL must first look to city officials and local politicians as a basis of support.  Lacking the experience needed to navigate the high seas of “local politics”, WFL hopes to garner the support of those proficient at such.  In doing so, WFL hopes to receive the necessary guidance and expediency for any proposed events that may require City approval.  Additionally, support from such individuals will give credibility to the efforts of WFL and to the expressed desires of their constituents.

Knoxville is home to three major World’s Fair Energy Partners.  The University of Tennessee, TVA and Oak Ridge National Laboratories were all essential in bringing the Fair to Knoxville.  WFL intends to contact the appropriate parties in soliciting support for the 25^th Anniversary.  Other local

 

companies, such as Pilot and Petros, were also associated with the 1982 World’s Fair and would most likely be eager to participate in commemorating the anniversary. 

Strategic alignment with a local media group would also be a necessity.  Recent feedback from The Metro Pulse continues to encourage WFL in their pursuit of these relationships.  The support of a local television station would also serve to be mutually beneficial in creating awareness.

And finally, WFL has already established a fledgling relationship with the East Tennessee Historical Society.  WFL is contributing approximately $1 of each shirt sold to the ETHS with hopes that these contributions will be used along with additional ETHS resources to bring about awareness to the 25^th anniversary.  Similar relationships with community programs will continue to advance this awareness.    

Currently, WFL operates on revenue generated from the sale of 1982 World’s Fair apparel.  As of 12/31/06, WFL will move from their kiosk.  Consignment agreements with local retail stores and web-based purchase will be the sole source of continuing those revenues.  While WFL operating costs are minimal, their boundless vision will require assistance from many Knoxville organizations. 

V. The Final Countdown

            Ideas expressed above were done so as to provide a brief overview.  WFL has developed more extensive concepts as to how these events could be managed.  However, the 25th birthday of the 1982 World’s Fair is May 1^st and time is now of the essence.  Please feel free to contact Chris King or Ronnie Wilson with any questions or for additional information.

 

Ronnie Wilson

865.692.0899

rwilson@1982worldsfair.com

 

Chris King

865.809.6447

chrisking@1982worldsfair.com