The event, which ran from noon on Friday to noon on Saturday, was one of few places in the Octagon to suffer because of Rugby World Cup crowds.
The event was moved from its usual month of May because of the theatre's renovations. At the time the September weekend was booked for the sale, no tournament matches were planned in the city.
An "enormous queue" of people wanting to buy tickets to Saturday night's rugby game and large crowds in the Octagon meant "numbers were down", Mrs Cunningham said.
Three security guards were also kept busy throughout the night keeping drunk revellers from entering the theatre, which she thought would have put people, particularly families, off going to the event.
While she was "grateful for the people who came out", the sale made about $70,000, down from last year's $100,000.
However, despite unfortunate timing, the sale was fantastic and everything the hard-working volunteers could control went smoothly, Mrs Cunningham said.
"It was a great trial run of the new layout."
Positive comments had been received and organisers welcomed further feedback about the sale.
