Hip-hop concert moves indoors
A promoter says Clear Channel's legal trouble and the artists' performance preference have forced the move.
By TOM ZUCCO
Published July 27, 2005
Eminem and 50 Cent are the first casualties in the sound war at the Ford Amphitheatre.
Monday's concert featuring the two rap artists is moving to the St. Pete Times Forum from the amphitheater, one day after a judge ruled that the outdoor venue and its owner Clear Channel Entertainment are not exempt from local noise rules.
Concert promoter Cellar Door, which is owned by Clear Channel Communications, struck a deal Tuesday to move the Anger Management 3 concert, which has drawn large crowds to major amphitheaters and arenas since it began two weeks ago.
The agreement to hold the concert at the Times Forum in downtown Tampa instead of the Ford Amphitheatre in eastern Hillsborough County came together on short notice.
"I'm sure there's going to be some challenges because we've never experienced anything like this before," said Holly Brown, director of event marketing for the Times Forum. "But we have a skilled staff here, and we can certainly accommodate the fans. It would not have been great if the show had been canceled."
Brown said about 9,000 tickets already have been sold, and that the Times Forum would extend its box office hours to allow those fans to exchange their tickets.
The Ford Amphitheatre seats about 20,000. The Times Forum, which is owned by Palace Sports and Entertainment and is home to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Storm, seats up to 21,000 for concerts. The St. Petersburg Times owns naming rights to the facility.
A spokeswoman for the Ford Amphitheatre had no comment Tuesday on the status of upcoming concerts by Toby Keith (Aug. 6), Earth, Wind & Fire (Aug. 13) and Avril Lavigne (Aug. 20).
But Brown said no discussions have been held between the Times Forum and the amphitheater regarding other shows.
In an e-mail to local media outlets, Cellar Door explained that the concert was moved at their request, and that the amphitheater "is about to enter in to mediation over current sound level restrictions at the amphitheater. Until that situation is resolved fairly and successfully, moving to the indoor venue will allow the artists on the bill to deliver their performances in the way they are intended to be performed for their fans."
The move could signal the beginning of the end of a long legal battle.
Within a few months of its opening last July, the Ford Amphitheatre has been at the center of three lawsuits involving noise. Residents living near the $23-million venue have filed nearly 300 complaints, and two have filed a joint lawsuit against Clear Channel. The Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission also has sued Clear Channel and the Florida State Fair Authority to force the venue to turn down the sound.
The lawsuits are still pending, and during a hearing Monday on one of them, Clear Channel attorney Don Conwell warned that putting controls on the sound would have disastrous effects.
"Artists won't want to come," Conwell said. "People won't want to go to the amphitheater."
If a device that limits sound was added, "What kind of concert is that?" Conwell asked.
But in that same hearing, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Charlene Honeywell told attorneys from both sides, "The citizens are not winners as long as this goes on. The only winners are attorneys because of the fees."
Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of Pollstar, a trade magazine that tracks the concert industry, said Clear Channel is in the difficult position now of trying to appease both the artists it has already booked, and compliance with noise regulations.
"It could be that the Anger Management people said, "No, we can't or won't play under those conditions. I'd rather you moved the show,' " Bongiovanni said.
"The artists are going to be upset with the situation. They don't like to have to compromise what they think is their show. And for Clear Channel, it could have an adverse affect on future bookings.
"All their concerts coming up, even Toby Keith, are not going to be quiet. My guess is that they (Clear Channel) are trying to buy some time."
Bongiovanni said most outdoor venues have to deal with noise problems of some sort. And in most cases, a compromise is reached.
But not always.
The Pacific Amphitheatre at the Orange County, Calif., Fairgrounds, a facility not owned by Clear Channel, was shut down for several years as a result of a noise lawsuit brought by residents. The amphitheater was only recently reopened, and only for fair events held two weeks every year.
"They used the same argument Clear Channel did of being on a state fairgrounds and saying noise regulations didn't apply," Bongiovanni said.
TICKET INFORMATIONTICKET EXCHANGE: Tickets purchased for the Ford Amphitheatre performance of the Anger Management Tour 3 featuring Eminem and 50 Cent must be exchanged for a new ticket at the St. Pete Times Forum - first come, first served. All tickets will be exchanged for a comparable location. Refunds only are available at the point of purchase. The first 2,000 tickets exchanged also will receive a $5 concession voucher for use at the show.
BOX OFFICE HOURS: The St. Pete Times Forum box office will be open for exchanges Wednesday, July 27, through Saturday, July 30, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, July 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Monday, Aug. 1, beginning at 8 a.m. until the time of the show. For information, call 813-740-2446.