Preliminary numbers look positive for Rock the Locks

UMATILLA – The Rock the Locks music festival took place over the weekend in
Umatilla, and although the official numbers aren’t yet available preliminary projections
look positive in the event’s third year.

Umatilla City Manager David Stockdale says the ticket and attendance numbers look to
be up at least 15 percent from last year’s event. He says in terms of overall revenue the
city is still working with sponsors and product providers to balance the final inventories,
but the preliminary numbers from Rock the Locks merchandise appear to be up 30
percent.

The goal of the third edition of the event was to reach a cost recovery rate of 64
percent. Stockdale said so far it appears this year’s rate will be between 54 and 60
percent. That does continue an upward trend from a 34 percent rate in 2023 and 44
percent in 2024.

All figures at this point are preliminary and subject to change before a post-event report
is given to the city council at its December 2 meeting.

Stockdale added that sound mitigation, especially when it came to neighbors of the Big
River Golf Course where the event is held, was a major focus for event planners this
year. He said the changes made for sound mitigation this year so far appear to have
been successful and trending in the right direction. An official analysis will be completed
over the next several weeks.

At the request of the city council Stockdale will provide a report that will include cost
recovery and net city investment, economic impacts with emphasis on Umatilla-only
benefits including return on investment, community and neighborhood impacts including
the effectiveness of sound mitigation efforts, community participation metrics, and
festival attendees’ experiences.

MYCB photo by Griffin Beach of Fear of the Dark performing at the 2025 Rock the
Locks

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Elkhorn Media Group