Celebration took place in 2008. The Pensacola News Journal released an article stating that the CRA (or Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency) was working on making a new kind of New Year's Eve celebration. The paper said that the celebration will be held at the Plaza Ferdinand VII and will also be live on WEAR-TV; beginning with the 2017 celebration, events were carried in simulcast on WEAR's Website. Almost 45,000 people showed up for the event, including residents of Mobile, Alabama (which hosts its own competing drop, a Moon Pie), Milton, Florida, Navarre, Florida, and Destin, Florida. In December 2019, organizers announced that the Pelican Drop had been canceled due to financial issues and the burden the event had caused on local police and public services. A smaller fireworks display, which does not require the same amount of traffic disruption, will be held instead. The pelican was made and designed by Emmett Andrews LLC. Made of polished aluminum and decorated with over 2,000 lights, the bird has a wingspan and is high. Sports Notable sports teams in Penascola include: Previously, the Pensacola Pelicans was an independent league baseball team that played at Jim Spooner Field from 2002 to 2010. The city hosted professional golf tournaments such as the Pensacola Open (PGA Tour, 1958-1988), the Pensacola Ladies Invitational (LPGA Tour, 1965-1968) and Pensacola Classic (Nike Tour, 1990-1995). The Five Flags Speedway is a half-mile paved racetrack that opened in 1953. It hosts the Snowball Derby stock car race every December since 1968. It has also hosted rounds of the NASCAR Grand National (now NASCAR Cup Series), Superstar Racing Experience, NASCAR Southeast Series, ARCA Racing Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ASA National Tour, CARS Pro Cup Series and Southern Super Series. Parks and recreation Big Lagoon State Park - approximately southwest of Pensacola on Gulf Beach Highway Perdido Key State Park - located on a barrier island southwest of Pensacola, off S.R. 292 Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park - southwest of Pensacola, Pensacola Bayfront Stadium - a multi-use park in Pensacola Plaza Ferdinand VII Bayview Park Miraflores Park Government The city of Pensacola utilizes a strong mayor-council form of government, which was adopted in 2011 after citizens voted in 2009 to approve a new city charter. An elected mayor serves as the chief executive of the city government, while a seven-member city council serves as the city's governing body. A council president is