RTP-area local music and culture

[Brian Russell <brussell AT ibiblio.org>]

Please send the URL for this editorial to the list.
Thanks!
-Brian

> Open up theater planning process
>
> The Herald-Sun (editorial)
> Jun 3, 2004
>
> It was good to hear the City of Durham is at least four months away 
> from
> hearing the full financial details of a plan to build a $42-million,
> 4,000-seat theater downtown near the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
>
> There are too many unanswered questions to rush headlong into such a 
> large,
> potentially risky investment. We're uncomfortable with the project in a
> number of areas: The lack of openness in the process so far, the 
> exclusive
> involvement of Clear Channel Entertainment and the city's potential
> liability if things don't work out.
>
> The reason the theater situation appears murky is that not enough of 
> the
> planning has been conducted in the open. If it is ever to garner 
> support,
> the theater needs to have the public -- the future ticket-buyers -- 
> solidly
> behind it.
>
> And part of the public's reticence is due to the presence of media 
> giant
> Clear Channel, the 800-pound gorilla in the room. At a public meeting
> Tuesday, citizens criticized Clear Channel as "the Wal-Mart of
> entertainment" because of its huge size and preference for
> middle-of-the-road entertainment fare.
>
> We don't have a problem with a company making profits and growing 
> large.
> That's the American way. And we know Clear Channel has plenty of 
> expertise
> running event centers all over the country, including the Alltell 
> Pavilion
> at Walnut Creek.
>
> What does bother us is that Clear Channel has been involved from the
> beginning with no other proposals on the table. Recently, Alliance 
> Theater
> Construction Consulting of Connecticut submitted an unsolicited 
> proposal for
> $32 million -- $10 million less than Clear Channel. But city officials 
> were
> unimpressed. They weren't sure if the proposal met specifications and 
> said
> they needed to focus on the current proposal.
>
> What? Someone offers a $10 million savings and we're too busy to look 
> at it?
> We need to take a hard look -- and actively seek other proposals.
>
> We're also concerned because Clear Channel stands to reap the benefits 
> if
> things go well, but doesn't share the risk if they don't. Under the 
> rosy
> scenario presented by a development team, operating revenues should top
> $1.25 million a year the first year and go up from there. But most of 
> the
> profit would go to pay Clear Channel's management fee. If revenues fall
> short, Clear Channel's pay would be reduced, a fate the company would 
> likely
> survive. But it would be worse for Durham taxpayers, who would be 
> forced to
> make good on any shortfalls.
>
> In general, a new theater downtown is an exciting idea. But we would 
> rather
> say thanks, but no thanks, if it turns out to be a better deal for 
> Clear
> Channel than for Durham taxpayers.
>
>
>
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