Tampa Noise Disputes Linger
Failed efforts to resolve a noise dispute at the
The Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission filed a lawsuit in December against the venue’s owner,
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
“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
