Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Proposed arena, amphitheater may compete

Marketplace \| Services \| Contact Us \| Community \| Arts & Entertainment \| Local Guides

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Thursday, October 19, 2000

Proposed arena, amphitheater may compete
Amphitheater spokesman says that facility is primarily geared toward concerts and festivals
By Jason Ma
Caller-Times

Kimiko Fieg/Caller-Times

The proposed downtown arena on the Nov. 7 ballot would compete for some events with a new amphitheater nearing completion blocks away.
   Real estate developer Bill Durrill Jr. and concert promoter Jerry LaTouf are building a 10,000- to 12,000-capacity outdoor venue located seven blocks away from the proposed arena site near the Bayfront Plaza Convention Center.
   "There will be some direct competition," Durrill said. But "we felt there was enough of an up side on an amphitheater that it was worth taking a chance. We don't fear (the arena) is something that would sink us."
   Voters will decide Nov. 7 on a ballot proposal to build an arena funded by a one-eighth cent sales tax increase. The arena would cost about $35 million and seat 8,000 to 10,000.
   An arena would host IceRays and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Islander basketball games, in addition to concerts, and possibly rodeos, family-oriented ice shows and other sporting events.
   The amphitheater is being funded privately by Durrill, his family members, and LaTouf. Its completion is expected mid-December or mid-January, with the first concert slated for March.
   Construction is about 70 percent complete. A 130-by-80 foot stage is nearly finished, with backstage facilities soon to follow.
   Some residents, however, say the city does not need both an amphitheater and arena.
   "There's just so much that people will be willing to spend their money on," said Joe Minervini, a local business owner. "Between the coliseum, auditorium and the amphitheater, I don't think there's going to be a need" for an arena.
   "I just don't see a demand," he said.
   Durrill said he is willing to accept competition from the arena because an arena would attract more people to the city.
   "For the gain of Corpus Christi, I'm willing to fight through it," he said. "We want to work in conjunction with the (arena) and make everything successful."
   LaTouf said the two venues would complement rather than hurt each other. The amphitheater, he said, primarily would be a venue for concerts and festivals, while the arena could host other, non-music events.
   "Anything that brings more people to Corpus, I'm all for it," LaTouf said. "The new arena is a multipurpose arena. We are specifically designed for a concert. Some shows and festivals you couldn't do in an arena."
   Deputy City Manager Skip Noe said the proposed arena would be a year-round facility, while the amphitheater is vulnerable to unfavorable weather conditions, such as rain and extreme heat.
   "(The amphitheater) doesn't represent major competition," he said.
   And he said their proximity to each other does not represent a problem.
   Although the two venues could cause traffic congestion if events go on simultaneously, Noe said, that would happen only once or twice a year. There is also enough parking space available for both facilities, he said.
   While concert revenues would account for most of the amphitheater's business, its builders said, PKF Consulting, hired by the city to do a study of the arena, estimates that concerts would contribute only 2 to 3 percent of the arena's total revenue.



Staff writer Jason Ma can be reached at 886-3778 or by e-mail at maj@caller.com

| Talk about this story | Next Story | Home |

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

[ Printer-friendly version ]
[ Subscribe to newspaper ]

SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND

[an error occurred while processing this directive]