THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 25, 1996 TAG: 9605240028
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 27 lines
Reports about the Virginia Beach amphitheater have not focused on the benefits that this project will provide: the entertainment value of a variety of concerts and the opportunity for people to come together to enjoy music in a unique setting.
The focus has been on the surcharge that TicketMaster places on ticket sales.
The puzzling thing about his emphasis is that TicketMaster has imposed a surcharge on ticket prices for 20 years. Why is it suddenly a problem?
The reason, I think, is that without such a controversy the media would have nothing else to talk about.
The Virginian-Pilot and the rest of the media can't seem to just talk about something that will bring enjoyment to people's lives; they must find something controversial to talk about or to criticize.
Why can't we just accept the fact that this project, surcharge or no surcharge, is what makes bringing The Dave Matthews Band, Sting, Natalie Merchant, Bruce Hornsby and scores of others to our area possible?
ED SOUTHERLAND
Virginia Beach, May 13, 1996 by CNB