GULF SHORES, Ala. - Ron Kutter found a lot to like about his sixth consecutive and last, year as chairman of the 41st Annual National Shrimp Festival.

First and foremost was the new layout and how well it worked giving the throngs that swarmed the town more room and the vendors more room to display and sale wares.

It didn’t hurt that two huge sponsors have indicated they want to return for three more years and that another national sponsor came away encouraged by the response it received from festival goers.

Kutter said the move was to free up space on Gulf Place where the food vendors typically set up and “free up the gridlock that is the food boardwalk,” he said.

“We had the footprint to change this year,” he said. “We had the (west) stage aimed to the south and that allows us more wiggle room, more space there. We did have the best crowds in terms of a show there. It was awesome.”

More tents were set up in the area as a place where people brought their food to eat.

“We took up the green space and I don’t know if you guys were walking around but the whole west side was open and so many people were utilizing the picnic area,” Kutter told the council. “We erected shade tents, they were using blankets, they had chairs. That foot print move was a home run.”

The difference was utilizing the south side of Alabama 182 to set up rows of vendors. But the north side of the road remained free and clear for pedestrians and emergency response vehicles.

“It went really well by allowing the vendors, those arts and crafters that we put out in the street,” Kutter said. “That was just 100 less vehicles that came inside the festival so the evacuation went easier.”

Zatarain’s, the title sponsor of the event, has expressed interest in continuing its affiliation with the festival. The company sent executives down to observe the weekend.

“They were on the end of our three-year agreement with them,” Kutter said. “They flew down here from Massachusetts from their corporate offices for McCormick. They verbally gave us another three-year commitment because of what they saw. They were also down here to help us announce the restaurant challenge winner which was our fifth year of doing this in conjunction with Faulkner and Alabama Wild Shrimp.

“And, again, another home run right there.”

Last year one of the stages had no sponsor and was draped in chamber banners for the shows. A new sponsor, Wind Creek casino, was on hand this year and was represented on the east stage.

“They did De Luna Fest, they did Bayfest and, of course, the Shrimp Festival,” Kutter said. “They were doing that for the mindset for 2013, 2014 and 2015 they were going to pick one festival. They brought down what they thought they were going to use for the weekend and gave away in one day what they had allocated for the whole weekend. They went back to Atmore and got more goodies.

“I think they see potential in that and they also verballed us at three-year agreement for our attendance. They were just happy.”

Several of the sponsors who set up booths on the grounds had similar experiences.

“Chevrolet, another national sponsor, last year they gave out 5,000 handouts,” Kutter said. “This year they came in with 6,700 and Thursday they were Fed-Exing more. So they ran out right way.”

Cash was flowing as well on the festival grounds.

“The ATMs that we had down there in various locations, and I don’t have the Sunday numbers, spit out $95,600 that was spent down there,” Kutter said.

Mayor Robert Craft and the rest of the council were pleased with Kutter’s report.

“I’d be interesting to see an economic impact on the island of the Shrimp Festival being here because this one had to be among the best ever,” Craft said.