Downtown new site for concert venue

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Downtown new site for concert venue
by Jim Walker Nov 19, 2003

The Lawn at WRSP to open next summer

Starting next summer, Indianapolis music fans will have a new downtown option for outdoor music shows. State officials have partnered with Clear Channel Entertainment to operate a 5,000-person capacity venue at The Lawn at White River State Park.

The Lawn from the artist’s point of view

Just across Washington Street from Victory Field, the venue — a small, covered bandstand area in front of a grassy hill near the river — will host 10 to 12 events in June, July and August. The announcement of the partnership came at a press conference Monday attended by Gov. Joe Kernan, Mayor Bart Peterson and Clear Channel Entertainment President and CEO David Lucas. “This city loves music and has opened its arms to all kinds of entertainment over the years,” Lucas said. “We’re thrilled to open another venue in Indianapolis to help quench its thirst for live entertainment.” While a list of shows won’t be set for a few more months, Lucas mentioned acts like Tony Bennett and Chicago as the type that draw around 5,000 fans. “There are a lot of acts out there that draw in that range who just haven’t had a place to play in Indianapolis and don’t stop here during their summer tours,” Lucas told reporters after the press conference ended. “Now they’ll be able to.” Lucas doesn’t expect The Lawn to compete with shows at Verizon Music Center, which Clear Channel owns, because the new venue will feature different acts than the ones booked in Noblesville. During the press conference, Kernan said the partnership with Clear Channel would “maximize our opportunities to do additional things in the future.” He added, “We are taking this beautiful space here in the heart of our state capital to the next level.” Peterson thanked Lucas, calling him “his good friend” — before quickly adding a joke. “I can tell everyone he’s my good friend because I didn’t award the contract.” But seriously, Peterson is excited about what the new venue means for live music in Indianapolis. “This is going to be a gem right in the heart of the city,” he said. “A piece of land that was pretty much forgotten for 20 years has become for arts and entertainment in the state.” Lucas, who is from Indianapolis, has been pushing for a downtown music venue along the White River since 1987. “There will be a beam focused by myself and my staff on this park,” he said. “It means that much to me.” Clear Channel operates similar downtown outdoor music venues in several other cities, including Boston and Pittsburgh, Lucas said. Along with booking shows and managing The Lawn, Clear Channel will be responsible for renting all of the other spaces controlled by the state park, including Military Park. That will mean that Clear Channel will have a vested interest in the success of traditional events like the recently troubled Jazz Fest. “We want to assist Jazz Fest in any way we can,” Lucas said. “We’re the world’s largest live music company. We have a lot of power to bring in artists.” Clear Channel Entertainment, which owns or exclusively books acts in 135 venues throughout the world, is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Worldwide.

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