Alliance Stadium Concert Debate

Syracuse, N.Y., county officials reportedly agree that booking more concerts at the city’s Alliance Bank Stadium would be an asset but how to make the plan work has yet to be decided.

Chicago’s Jam Productions put on the last two concerts at the 11,117-capacity stadium – a Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp outing, and Dave Matthews Band – in 2009. Although the concerts were considered successful, they didn’t bring in any revenue for the county, according to the Post-Standard.

No concerts were held at the stadium this year.

Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney reportedly suggested putting aside $500,000 from a hotel occupancy tax to hire a promoter and financially back the concerts at the home of the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. Mahoney said concert revenue would repay the funds, the Post-Standard said.

Syracuse Jazz Festival Executive Director Frank Malfitano was awarded the contract after he responded to a request for proposals sent out in June.

However, that plan was scuttled in October when the Legislature passed a law that county funds can’t be used to “procure concert promotion services” outside the city’s downtown complex because of the financial risk.

“The sky was the limit as far as what we could do,” Mahoney told the paper. “This kicks our feet out from under us. Even if we could find a way to do this at no cost [to the county], if it involves a promoter, we’re prohibited.”

Meanwhile, Syracuse Chiefs GM John Simone has reportedly reached out to Jam Productions and other promoters about options to make the concert plan a reality, the Post-Standard said.