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THE ICE CREAM SANDWICH SOUNDS DELICIOUS. HAVE SOME FUN. THANKS, CONNOR. IT’S THE FIRST BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY SHAREHOLDERS WEEKEND WITHOUT WARREN BUFFETT LEADING THE CHARGE. PEOPLE STILL LINED UP STARTING AT 2 A.M., BUT ATTENDEES SAY THE C-H-I HEALTH CENTER HAS BEEN EMPTIER THAN PREVIOUS YEARS. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S IZZY FONFARA JUUL HAS MORE. FOR MANY SHAREHOLDERS, THE ANNUAL BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY MEETING IS A CHANCE TO FOLLOW IN WARREN BUFFETT’S FOOTSTEPS. WARREN BUFFETT HAS CHANGED OMAHA THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD, BUT WITHOUT THE ORACLE OF OMAHA, IS IT POSSIBLE THE WEEKEND HAS LOST ITS LUSTER? SHAREHOLDERS SAY ATTENDANCE IS DOWN, AND IT’S SOMETHING WE NOTICED, TOO, WHEN WE WERE HERE. IN PAST YEARS, THE ALWAYS HERE WERE COMPLETELY FULL AND THIS YEAR IT’S PRETTY COMFORTABLE. LOOK AT THESE PATHS WIDE OPEN AND EASY TO WALK AROUND. MY PHOTOGRAPHER BARELY HAVING ANY ISSUES CARRYING AROUND HIS CAMERA. IN THE PAST IT WAS REALLY CROWDED AND HERE YOU CAN WALK. WALK RIGHT UP TO A SALES PERSON RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS UNUSUAL. JERRY KEITHLEY HAS BEEN COMING TO THIS MEETING FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HE SAYS VENDORS LIKE FRUIT OF THE LOOM USED TO HAVE LINES OUT THE DOOR. THE WAITING LINE USED TO BE, OH GOSH, TAKE AT LEAST A HALF HOUR TO 45 MINUTES JUST TO GET IN THERE. NOW YOU CAN WALK RIGHT IN NOW. I CALLED ABOUT TEN HOTELS IN DOWNTOWN OMAHA. MOST OF THEM TOLD ME THEY’RE NEAR CAPACITY, BUT IT’S THE CROWD THAT’S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. THE OMAHA MARRIOTT IN THE CAPITAL DISTRICT SAYS IN 2025, THEIR GUESTS CAME FROM NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA. EVEN ASIAN COUNTRIES LIKE JAPAN. BUT THIS YEAR, THE MANAGER SAYS MOST OF HIS ROOMS, ROUGHLY 80% OF THEM, ARE RENTED TO AMERICANS. I TALKED TO DOZENS OF PEOPLE AT THIS MEETING, AND ONLY TWO OF THEM WERE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, CANADA. NOW, THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS AREN’T IN YET, BUT SHAREHOLDERS HAVE SOME IDEA ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE DROP IN ATTENDANCE. THERE’S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH REGARD TO AIRLINES AND AIRFARE AND AVAILABILITY AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE TSA, AND THEY’RE HOPEFUL THIS ISN’T PERMANENT. IT WILL COME. PEOPLE WILL BE BACK. IT’S JUST THE ECONOMY HAS TO IMPROVE IN OMAHA, IZZ
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Shareholders see drop in Berkshire Hathaway attendance
After Warren Buffett’s retirement, crowds appeared smaller at the 2026 shareholders’ meeting.
For many shareholders, the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting is a chance to follow in Warren Buffett’s footsteps.”Warren Buffett has changed Omaha, the United States and the world,” Paul Moffat, a shareholder from Las Vegas, said. “His influence and his perception of life and the world is magnificent.”But without the Oracle of Omaha, is it possible the weekend has lost some of its luster? Shareholders said attendance is down, and it’s something KETV noticed too.”When we were here in past years, the aisles here were completely full, and this year it’s pretty comfortable,” Jerry Keathley, a shareholder from Omaha, said.The pathways were wide open and easy to walk around. Our KETV photographer barely had any issues carrying around his camera.”In the past, it was really crowded,” Bonnie Pfeiler, another Omaha shareholder, said. “In here, you can walk right up to a salesperson right now, which is unusual.”Keathley has been coming to this meeting for over 20 years. He said vendors like Fruit of the Loom used to have lines out the door.”The waiting line used to be, oh gosh, take at least half an hour to 45 minutes just to get in there. Now, you can walk right in,” Keathley said.KETV called about 10 different hotels in downtown Omaha to see if they are also feeling a drop in attendance. We were only able to speak to a couple of managers who said they are almost full, but the crowds are different.The Omaha Marriott in the Capitol District reported that guests in 2025 were from New Zealand, Australia and Asian countries like Japan. The manager said this year, almost 80% of his rooms are rented to Americans. Our reporter talked with dozens of people, but only two of them were from another country, and it was Canada. Official numbers are not available yet, but shareholders have some ideas about what caused the drop.”There’s a number of things that are going on right now with regard to airlines and airfare and availability and the problem with the TSA,” Keathley said. “I think it’s the economy that’s affecting the middle class,” Pfeiler said. “The middle class just don’t have the money to spend, so I don’t think they bought much.”Despite this year’s turnout, shareholders hope this isn’t permanent.”It will come, people will be back,” Pfeiler said, “The economy just has to improve.”Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
For many shareholders, the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting is a chance to follow in Warren Buffett’s footsteps.
“Warren Buffett has changed Omaha, the United States and the world,” Paul Moffat, a shareholder from Las Vegas, said. “His influence and his perception of life and the world is magnificent.”
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But without the Oracle of Omaha, is it possible the weekend has lost some of its luster? Shareholders said attendance is down, and it’s something KETV noticed too.
“When we were here in past years, the aisles here were completely full, and this year it’s pretty comfortable,” Jerry Keathley, a shareholder from Omaha, said.
The pathways were wide open and easy to walk around. Our KETV photographer barely had any issues carrying around his camera.
“In the past, it was really crowded,” Bonnie Pfeiler, another Omaha shareholder, said. “In here, you can walk right up to a salesperson right now, which is unusual.”
Keathley has been coming to this meeting for over 20 years. He said vendors like Fruit of the Loom used to have lines out the door.
“The waiting line used to be, oh gosh, take at least half an hour to 45 minutes just to get in there. Now, you can walk right in,” Keathley said.
KETV called about 10 different hotels in downtown Omaha to see if they are also feeling a drop in attendance. We were only able to speak to a couple of managers who said they are almost full, but the crowds are different.
The Omaha Marriott in the Capitol District reported that guests in 2025 were from New Zealand, Australia and Asian countries like Japan. The manager said this year, almost 80% of his rooms are rented to Americans.
Our reporter talked with dozens of people, but only two of them were from another country, and it was Canada. Official numbers are not available yet, but shareholders have some ideas about what caused the drop.
“There’s a number of things that are going on right now with regard to airlines and airfare and availability and the problem with the TSA,” Keathley said.
“I think it’s the economy that’s affecting the middle class,” Pfeiler said. “The middle class just don’t have the money to spend, so I don’t think they bought much.”
Despite this year’s turnout, shareholders hope this isn’t permanent.
“It will come, people will be back,” Pfeiler said, “The economy just has to improve.”
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
