THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 1996 TAG: 9605150009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
James Taylor pays wry tribute to his loyal fans when he sings, ``Some are like summer, comin' back every year. Got your baby, got your blanket, got your bucket of beer.''
He's talking about the so-called shed circuit, outdoor venues where music fans can buy a seat under a metal roof or loll on a lawn under stars.
The granddaddys of the shed circuit are venerable summer stages associated with classical music - Washington's Wolftrap and Blossom Music Center, the Cleveland Orchestra's summer home.
But rock, country and pop stars long ago caught on that the sheds are excellent venues for them too. The size is right. The amphitheater design can put a lot of people close to the stage. The acoustics are good, and the ambiance more pleasant than huge arenas.
For all those reasons, sheds have spread. Tonight, with a grand-opening concert by local light Bruce Hornsby, Virginia Beach belatedly joins the circuit. It's astonishing it has taken so long for this area to get aboard. For a resort destination, alfresco entertainment is a natural. And without a shed you can't really get in the game.
Mark R. Wawner is the project development manager for the city. He reports that 80 percent of top acts now play the shed circuit almost exclusively between May and September. Tonight, they'll begin playing the Beach.
There's been some controversy over the city's decision to pay to build an amphitheater from which a private company will profit, but a successful amphitheater will make the Beach a more-attractive tourist mecca and should bring dollars to the city.
The estimated direct tax return to the city is $1.2 million per year. The total economic impact should be in the neighborhood of $10 million annually. And investing in an amphitheater is cost-effective. Wawner puts the per-seat construction cost of the amphitheater at $650 compared to approximately $10,000 per seat for indoor arenas.
Work on the amphitheater has lagged slightly behind schedule. Spring rains have delayed landscaping and paving. Bamboo on the back slope hasn't flourished yet, but 7,500 seats are installed, the lawn for another 12,500 patrons is green and 62 corporate boxes have sold well. Fountains are spouting in muddy new lakes, and acres of parking await an opening-night crowd.
The amphitheater boasts state-of-the-art sound and video facilities. By contrast, dressing rooms are spartan, closer to a mobile home than a penthouse. From the top of the amphitheater - 62 feet above ground - you can get a case of Virginia Beach vertigo since it's the highest point in any direction.
The turquoise color scheme and '50s signage pay witty, fitting homage to the drive-in era of American Graffiti. The girders flanking the stage form two giant V's. Patrons may think they are V's for Virginia Beach, but they could just as easily be for Victory. If ticket sales continue strong, long after the controversy is forgotten the Virginia Beach Amphitheater will be welcoming summer patrons back every year with their babies, their blankets and their vacation dollars. by CNB