The Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners today backed Live Nation Worldwide’s bid to run the Greek Theatre, which has been managed for the past 39 years by Nederlander Concerts.
One member of the panel said Live Nation’s application received a much higher score than Nederlander’s, and there did not appear to be any major flaws in the process used to evaluate the two companies’ proposals.
If the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Eric Garcetti also support Live Nation’s proposal, city staff will begin negotiating a contract with the firm, which would obtain the right to manage and book acts for the performance venue and share some of the profits with the city.
The contract term would be for 10 years, starting after Nederlander’s contract ends next October, with the possibility for two five-year extensions.
The commission had delayed making a decision twice during the last month. At the first meeting, the panel wanted to give its members more time to review challenges from Nederlander as to why its contract was not recommended for renewal. At the second meeting, neither company mustered enough votes, prompting the third meeting.
The meetings have drawn hundreds of people, mostly employees from the two companies who came out to support their respective employers.
Nederlander representatives pointed to several areas in the scoring and selection process they felt deserve closer inspection, including a part of Live Nation’s proposed contract that they said may lead to reduced rent.
Live Nation’s venues in Los Angeles include the Wiltern and the Hollywood Palladium. The company also ran the recent Made in America Festival at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles.
Nederlander operates the Pantages Theatre and the City National Grove of Anaheim.
