Last night I was talking with a friend who was wondering why there wasn’t a more formal and welcoming grand opening at the new events center? While they would prefer to remain anonymous, I will say this about them, they were very, very instrumental in getting the EC built.
His idea was to have a FREE concert for the opening event that the title sponsors and other businesses in town could underwrite. Basically the concert would consist of local, regional and a middle popular national act, but not something too expensive. It would have to be ticketed, but make tickets available at all the HyVees and make it first come, first serve. He also suggested the concert gets simulcast on Channel 16 CityLink and in the Arena and Convention center, so others in the community could share in the experience.
I told him it was a great idea, but apparently all we are getting for the almost $200 million in taxpayer debt is a chance at buying a scalper’s overpriced ticket to see a yahoo in a cowboy hat rap about country roads and bonfires.
SMG and the City; Gigantic Fail!
They could have served pork sammys too…
Finally a good post that makes sense. Good job.
Instead of a free concert, I would suggest an all day indoor and outdoor event to raise money for Feeding South Dakota and the Salvation Army. We have plenty of talent in the area that would donate their time for a half hour of exposure. A can of food and $1 gets you on the grounds. I’ll run that idea by someone I know that was very, very instrumental in getting the EC built.
I think you will have a hard time getting businesses to underwrite a free concert, just to have a free concert.
The friend has a great idea. It wasn’t Huether’s idea so can’t happen. What’s wrong with cowboy music? After the first year the best show will be tractor pulls.
Very good idea, OldSlewFoot.
[…] I actually called a local musician about it and said, “The mayor says they ‘might’ pay you.” He gives a sigh and a short snort and says, “Yeah, that means it doesn’t pay.” He pretty much voiced the same opinion as the others in the story, with all the money behind this place, they can afford to pay. I also called a city councilor and told them the sponsors should foot the bill for the musicians, as I originally suggested; […]