WILMINGTON — Last year the City of Wilmington’s Director of Community Services Amy Beatty sent an email to city officials detailing her conversations with Live Nation about taking over operations at the Hugh Morton Amphitheater (also known as Greenfield Lake Amphitheater).
While the conversation was tabled last year, recently, things have been moving forward with the city seeking a third-party management company for the music venue.
In a memo to officials sent in late summer 2018, Beatty said, “Given the short and long term benefits of an additional $2,000,000 in private investment, I began to think about the additional revenue streams for Live Nation and developed the idea of Live Nation operating the Hugh Morton Amphitheater. I ask the President of Live Nations Carolinas [sic] if they would be interested and he said yes.”
So, when Live Nation recently agreed to spend an additional $2 million on the North Waterfront Park Amphitheater at the same time the city is accepting proposals for management of Hugh Morton Amphitheater, it led to questions to the city as to whether or not this was the plan Beatty suggested in 2018.
Related: Greenfield Lake Amphitheater request for proposals extended again, Wilmington releases revenue data
The city has been limited in its responses regarding the situation but Beatty did offer a response after Port City Daily. Beatty’s response is below, it has been edited only for minor formatting.
“I (Amy) did not ever suggest Live Nation pitch in $2 million dollars in exchange for operating the amphitheater. In an early design team meeting, Live Nation asked about expanding the North Waterfront Park stage building scope. Staff felt this was a good idea because it would lessen the amount of temporary storage units taking up space in the park in the summer. But, we believed it could only be achieved if Live Nation provided additional investment. In December of 2018, Live Nation sent a proposal to the City to contribute an additional $2 million to apply to construction of the stage house. There were no conditions to the proposal. There were no conditions in the contract amendment accepting the $2 million.
In an email from myself to Grant Lyman, President, Live Nations Carolinas, in the summer of 2018, I asked if Live Nation would be interested in operations at the amphitheater at Greenfield Lake. I wanted to gauge the opinion of someone in the business to learn whether [a] third-party operation was a viable option for the amphitheater. The reason for my question was because at over 40 shows annually, the parks and recreation division/food and beverage services cannot sustain operating the amphitheater. Wilmington, like other municipalities, has been trending toward third-party operations in some areas as a more efficient delivery system. Examples include the softball league at Olsen Park, YMCA management of the public pools, and Hammerheads management of the soon-to-be constructed sports complex.”
Also, note that the back of the house $2 million contributions to North Waterfront Park concert venue is based on operational savings Live Nation identified if the city were to construct the expanded back of the house facility Live Nation recommended. The expanded facility will enable bigger/better entertainment opportunities, which will benefit the community.
The Hugh Morton RFP operational management procurement process is a competitive process. Staff’s recommendation, if proposals are received, will be based on the best, qualified proposal. There is no guarantee that Live Nation will submit a proposal. However, given the firm’s role in managing the new North Waterfront Park concert venue, one would anticipate Live Nation submitting a proposal.
[Editor’s disclosure note: 98.3 The Penguin (WUIN) and Port City Daily are both owned by Local Voice Media; Live Nation was a sponsor of The Penguin in 2019.]
