Greek To Be Open Venue After 2015

The issue was placed on the council’s agenda as a hearing, not an action item, to gather more information on the proposal by councilmember Paul Koretz, in a motion seconded by four other councilmembers late the previous week.

RAP general manager Mike Shull vigorously defended his commission’s plan to self-operate, and seemed to mollify the council’s concern by saying it will hire a professional facility manager to operate the day-to-day business of the Greek, but that facility manager will not be allowed to promote or co-promote concerts. 

“We don’t want to make this an exclusive. If you are managing the venue, we don’t want you promoting it,” Shull said.  He also revealed that RAP received two unsolicited bids to operate the Greek in the short term and, unsurprisingly, they came from Live Nation and Nederlander, “for the very same service.”

The GM said he could not consider either of the proposals because “the process would not be competitive, and we don’t do contracts that way.”

The department is now preparing contracts for food and beverage, parking, and other ancillary needs. Shull said he expects to have a “check-in” scheduled in fall 2016 and time set aside for a new RFP process.

“Between July of this year and next, everything we’re doing now is helping position us for a new RFP, to go that route, and for the council to have a say in the process,” he told the council.

The only action the council could have taken would be a vote to take jurisdiction of the matter into its own hands. Supporters didn’t appear to have backing that position, and the hearing ended with the RAP recommendation to self-operate the Greek intact.

“The 2015 Greek Theatre season is our immediate mission and we continue to be optimistic about the future in working with the City and keeping a balance between community and entertainment,” said Alex Hodges, CEO of Nederlander Concerts.

After the current contract with Nederlander ends, the company would still be able to promote shows at the Greek, albeit on a date-by-date basis, as would Live Nation, AEG Live, or any other promoter. However, they can’t contract with the city as the short-term facility manager.

Given that restriction, it is not unreasonable to expect SMG, Spectra, or other facility managers to kick the tires now.