Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 20, 1993 TAG: 9307200499
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ticket sales were boosted by many big-name performers who came to Roanoke during the fiscal year that ended June 30 - such as Garth Brooks, Neil Diamond, Alabama, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Kiss and Guns 'n' Roses.
Bob Chapman, civic center manager, said Monday the entertainment business is beginning to rebound after several sluggish years when some performers stopped touring.
Ticket sales were up 21 percent over the prior year.
Despite the variety of shows at the center, Commissioner Melinda Payne said she has received complaints that there are not enough that appeal to black audiences.
"I hear from the black population that many concerts and events don't appeal to them," Payne said.
Chapman said there have been no rhythm-and-blues, soul or rap shows in the center in recent years because promoters lost money on them during the 1970s and early 1980s. The attendance was small, he said.
"We can't get the shows now because the promoters don't want to risk losing money," he said.
Chapman said he will try to book more performers who appeal to black audiences.
Attendance for the past year for all shows was 540,843, an 18 percent increase from the year before. It was one of the best years for attendance, Chapman said, but it fell short of the record of 601,000.
"We had a good year because we had many big-name entertainers and people are beginning to spend more on entertainment," Chapman said.
Occupancy records show that the civic center complex was used on 77 percent of the days in the past year. That means that either the coliseum, auditorium or exhibit hall was used on one of these days.
Since the civic center opened in the early 1970, it has sold $49.2 million in tickets and attracted 11.2 million people to concerts, sporting events and other shows.
by CNB