Croc Sues SLP Concerts

Crocodile Rock Café in Allentown, Pa., has filed a lawsuit against SLP Concerts after the promoter shifted the venue’s upcoming shows to other facilities.

SLP Concerts, founded by Stan Levinstone, has moved shows like Awolnation, Opeth and Reverend Horton Heat to locations like the city’s Sherman Theatre and Bethlehem’s Musikfest Café.  SLP said in a statement Croc Rock  “is no longer a viable venue for concerts in the region.”

Venue owner Joe Clark said March 13 he had has filed a lawsuit against the promoter, seeking damages involving rebates from Ticketmaster.

“SLP Concerts refuses to disclose the amount of fees collected by them over five or six years or more n the shows at the Crocodile Rock Café,” Clark said in a statement, according to WFMZ-TV.

“There could be hundreds of thousands, maybe over a million, in these fees that have never been paid to the Crocodile Rock Café and were collected exclusively by SLP Concerts via Ticketmaster. A $25 ticket could cost a fan as much as $37 and SLP, Stan Levinstone, et. Al. And Ticketmaster kept those fees.”

Clark added the shows were moved “arbitrarily” and without notice.

“SLP Concerts will not comment on unspecific allegations contained in the press release issued today by the Crocodile Rock Café except to say that the allegations that have been made against SLP Concerts are without merit and false and it has referred the matter to its attorneys,” SLP told Pollstar. “SLP Concerts also has not received a copy of any lawsuit filed by the Crocodile Rock Café nor any Court Order impacting the venue or time of any of the shows at issue.

“SLP Concerts has no reason to believe that any of SLP Concerts’ presently scheduled shows will be in any way impacted and all ticketholders and other colleagues in the industry should not assume anything to the contrary unless otherwise notified.”