Tampa Noise Disputes Linger

Failed efforts to resolve a noise dispute at the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa, Fla., have resulted in a lawsuit that seeks to halt concerts at the venue until the matter is resolved.

The Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission filed a lawsuit in December against the venue’s owner, Clear Channel Entertainment , and the Florida State Fair Authority after receiving more than 160 noise complaints from neighbors since the shed opened in July, according to The Tampa Tribune. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and a temporary injunction prohibiting concerts until Clear Channel provides assurance it can operate within EPC’s noise limits.

In past weeks, Clear Channel and the EPC have reportedly met in an attempt to resolve the issue, but they could not reach an agreement. So the EPC decided to proceed with litigation.

“Any time you open a new venue, it is perfectly normal to have to fine tune or resolve unexpected challenges,” Ford Amphitheatre Executive Director Ed Morrell told Pollstar. “CCE worked hard during the design and construction phases to avoid any sound issues, and we are confident that we will resolve our current situation.”

A CCE spokesperson added that the company is committed to working through the matter with the EPC.

Meanwhile, on January 14th, a Hillsborough judge was reportedly scheduled to hear the EPC’s request to halt all concerts at the 20,000-capacity venue until the issue is resolved, but that date was pushed back. Concerts in question include a January 29th Hank Williams Jr. / Big & Rich gig, and several shows scheduled to run in February.

“The judge first continued it to February 4th, and just yesterday (January 18th) continued it again to February 11th,” EPC attorney Richard Tschantz told Pollstar. “No witnesses will be put on as to whether or not the EPC would get an injunction in upcoming concerts at least until February 11th now.”

He added, “We are ordered to go to court-ordered mediation prior to February 4th. So there will be some talks going on.”

As it stands now, all concerts will proceed at the venue, including those scheduled for the February 10-21 Florida State Fair. If the court does issue an injunction, a scheduled February 26th Jimmy Buffett concert could be affected.