Representatives of the long-time operator of the Greek Theatre said Tuesday it has the public’s backing to keep running the venue, pointing to more than 12,000 signatures gathered within the past 24 hours that show support for renewing the company’s contract.
Nederlander Concerts has managed and booked acts for the city-owned venue since 1976, but the event promoter is now at risk of losing the contract, which expires October 2015, to Live Nation.
City staff recommended replacing the company with Live Nation and Ticketmaster, following a bidding process.
The Recreation and Parks Commission was scheduled to award the contract last week, but put off a decision following hours of feedback, mostly from residents who supported keeping Nederlander. The panel will consider the contract again Thursday.
The signatures in favor of granting the contract to Nederlander were affixed to a Change.org petition page linked via wearethegreek.com, a website created to build support for the company.
Greek Theatre General Manager Rena Wasserman said Nederlander is “humbled by the overwhelming support from our fans, community, neighbors and industry.”
“This is more than just a venue to us, and we have a vision for the future of the venue and hope to continue operating it for many years to come,” Wasserman said.
Nederlander representatives contend their proposal, which they submitted jointly with AEG, guarantees $6.25 million more in rent revenue for the city during the first 10 years of the contract than Live Nation, and offers another $17.5 million if the contract is extended.
The proposal also includes renovating the venue with architect Brenda Levin, who also worked on the Griffith Observatory, Dodger Stadium and Los Angeles City Hall.
Live Nation issued a statement today saying that it “embarked on a rigorous and transparent process to find the most qualified partner to operate and manage the Greek Theatre.”
The company earned 91 percent of the points during the process, while its “competitor” got 79 percent of the points, the statement said.
Live Nation also was selected unanimously by a “panel of independent experts convened by the city to evaluate the proposals,” according to the statement.
“Live Nation looks forward to working closely with the Greek Theatre stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition and a successful partnership for years to come,” the statement said.
