Drumbeat for live performance venue begins with vested interests (OPINION)
Boosters need to show more skin in the game to reduce dependence on public funding
This post is opinion and commentary.
The roadshow for a permanent live performance venue (LPV) in Williamsburg has begun. The dual indoor/outdoor facilities, pegged to cost just north of $83 million, could certainly accommodate a wide variety of entertainment, from rock concerts, orchestras and theater. But the real drama may eventually play out in the meetings of local officials.
So it began earlier this week at the James City County Board of Supervisors regular meeting when they heard from a representative of the companies that want to build the live performance venue. These same contractors also built the Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center, which is right next to the proposed site for the LPV. York County’s administrator recently informed his board that they too would soon hear the same tune. Williamsburg plays it on a loop.
The local arts community is obviously excited about the proposed venue. I agree that it would be fantastic to see our local performers in a world-class facility. It’s good to see them turn out to support the idea at government meetings, but the venue funding should not rely exclusively on public sources. Since we’re talking about spending other people’s money, maybe some of the deep pockets around here should dig in a bit to make this happen. How much time has been spent shaking those trees? I’m sure the Architectural Review Board will approve a big sign on the front of the building for someone’s name. Of course no amount of fundraising can cover the cost of the facility, but the effort can demonstrate the community’s desire to support the venue. Let’s see how deep that actually is.
In typical Williamsburg fashion, two different organizations independently hired the same consultant to study the feasibility of the music venue. And that consultant produced two separate studies answering the question. Of course it would be nice to see estimates, but either way, it’s clear that someone stands to make a few bucks from this venture and clearly local hotels and restaurants are at the top of the list. Just how far down the taxpayers are isn’t clear.
One set of figures presented to the board estimated the total incremental tax revenue from visitors could be $450K annually, with James City and York both getting around $173K and Williamsburg pulling in about $104K. The second set of numbers prepared by the consultant estimated that the total incremental tax collections across all three jurisdictions might reach $1.5 million annually under certain programming conditions. To put that into perspective, the city alone expects to rake in somewhere around $1.6 million more annually from a recent increase in the meals tax. They also raised lodging taxes and instituted an admissions tax, which together are expected to bring in another $1.7 million more each year.
Proposed Live Performance Venue: The project includes a 68,000 SF indoor performance center seating 1,000 (plus 1,700 GA) with two-level fixed seating, dressing rooms, VIP lounge, and full kitchen, plus a 90,000 SF outdoor amphitheater seating 1,100 with 3,900 lawn capacity.
Watch the presentation starting around the 44 minute mark:
Click to view the presentation slides on the county’s website.
A cross-jurisdictional organization called the Historic Triangle Recreation Facilities Authority (HTRFA), which consists of executive leadership in Williamsburg, James City and York County, oversees the sports center and would also manage the new performance venue. The organization is chaired by James City County Administrator Scott Stevens, though earlier this week, he and his bosses on the Board of Supervisors were sure to stress that no decisions have been made, funding is not secured, and that this is just the beginning of the evaluation process.
Maybe so, but the developers assert that a completely unsolicited grand vision was pitched to local leadership years ago. Since then, at least half has been completed, with the other half in the works and picking up steam. Certainly, they’ve done an excellent job presenting the vision for the new venue and the area at large. Looking at the recently completed sports center and the renderings of the performance venue, it’s hard not to get excited.
Which is part of the problem. There’s no reason the developers wouldn’t want to build the venue. There’s no reason performing artists shouldn’t want to build the venue. But at some point, it will be time for them to step back and allow the public and officials to evaluate the project’s merits without coordinated lobbying. Ultimately, the paint is barely dry on the sports center. It seems reasonable to take a break from building $80 million facilities and see how the first one performs and whether there’s truly demand and support for another investment of that magnitude.
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Wonderful idea, would be a terrific addition to our area for local residents and tourists alike...just not with taxpayer money. If this is such a great idea, make a sweetheart deal with LiveNation or similar firm for the land. Have them build it and operate it. Our local taxpayers already have the burden of the newly opened Sports/Exhibition Center...let's see what that looks like after 3-5 years. Important to keep taxpayer money focused on the necessities.