Some businesses were overwhelmed and felt unable to provide good customer service during the twice-yearly event, she said.
As many as 30,000 people attended the summer and fall Urban Nights events, which included activities, deals and tours of businesses and attractions downtown as well as in the Oregon District and Wright Dunbar neighborhoods.
Gudorf said DDP, a downtown advocacy organization, hopes to instead draw people downtown more frequently with smaller events spread throughout the year, partly with themed events to showcase downtown amenities.
“We know that Urban Nights brought new people downtown,” Gudorf said. “We just want to spread that out.”
Bad weather has hampered Urban Nights in recent years. Some of the events have drawn negative publicity due to unruly youth.
DDP has not finalized its calendar of events, but said the other events in the yet-to-be branded or titled program will be focused on outdoor recreation, housing and performing arts.
The first in the new series will happen May 8 and be centered around visual art attractions at the Dayton Visual Arts Center, K12/Tejas Gallery, RiverScape MetroPark and Sideshow X at the “Old” Yellow Cab Building. Businesses are going to be encouraged to find ways to use the theme.
As Dayton.com was the first to tell you, DDP assembled a steering committee led by Dayton Business Journal Publisher Carol Clark and Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio President Colleen Ryan to figure out what events makes sense.
The steering committee held focus groups and gathered input from downtown residents, business owners and institutions, said Ryan, an Oregon District resident. Clark lives in downtown Dayton.
“This is really going to be a transition year for us,” Ryan said. “Just because you see it in 2015, doesn’t mean you’ll see it in coming years.”
Ryan said it was a matter of best using resources to showcase downtown’s amenities and do it more than twice a year to foster sustainable growth.
Ryan said the steering committee took a holistic look at DDP events, which have proven to be economic drivers.
The Square Is Where, a program meant to appeal to downtown workers in the summer months, and Dayton Holiday Festival, a Christmastime event started by Virginia Kettering in 1972, will continue as is.
First Fridays will continue, but some will be enhanced by the new yet-to-be branded programming.
Like Urban Nights, the new events will highlight downtown arts, music, dining, shopping, nightlife and housing options in downtown and the Oregon District. Ryan said the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood is considering its own separate programs this summer.
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