Seeding The Lawn

Clear Channel Music has made good on its promise, as previously reported by Pollstar, to invest in revitalizing the amphitheatre experience with the announcement of a variety of fan incentives including reduced lawn seats, ticket packages and concession upgrades. Another welcome change will be the loosening of restrictions on carry-in coolers, blankets and chairs.

The “Music Sounds Better On Grass” promotion means immediate benefit for the casual music fan, who most often frequents the lawn areas. In addition to lowering lawn ducats to as little as $20 for hundreds of shows this season, CCM is including parking, capping ticket surcharges and eliminating facility fees at 33 of its sheds.

For other shows, Clear Channel is introducing a $39 “Grass Pass” that includes ticket, parking and a $10 food and beverage voucher.

Included in the shed changes is an increase in the number of concession stands as well as the inclusion of local favorites among the eateries on site. Selection will go up and prices down with the participation of such national companies as Starbucks, Ben & Jerry’s, Subway, Legal Sea Foods and Au Bon Pain.

The Instant Live program will also offer live recordings of shows for purchase as fans exit select shows.

Clear Channel also released on June 1st the results of two fan surveys conducted for CCM that gave the company reason to be hopeful for a more successful summer season than the last.

According to the statistics released by CCM, 69 percent of respondents said that “sitting on the lawn at a concert is something I really enjoy,” while 77 percent said they were likely to sit in a lawn seat. Of those responding, 72 percent said they were “very likely” to attend an outdoor concert.