LN Talking Montage Lease

The concert promoter and county officials reportedly met to discuss a window written into the contract, which runs through 2021, that could allow the agreement at the county-owned venue to be terminated at the end of the year, according to the Scranton Times-Tribune. While the two parties will reportedly continue negotiations, they did at least come to an agreement in principle that Live Nation will continue to operate the 17,528-capacity shed through the 2016 season.

Andy Wallace, Lackawanna County commission chief of staff, told the paper the two sides had “a meaningful discussion” March 16, which resulted in the agreement for 2016. Discussions about the long-term arrangement are to continue.

County commissions reportedly extended the window by a month to April 1 to give Live Nation more time to decide if it wants to end the contract.

Reps from Live Nation and Lackawanna County met in what a county official described to the paper as a “negotiating session.” The county is believed to have concerns it would like addressed, including some safety issues.

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a car leaving a concert 2013 and a woman was found dead of a drug overdose in a tent during the 2015 Peach Music Festival.

In addition, according to the paper, the county annually loses money on $800,000 debt service and police costs versus Live Nation’s $550,000 rent payment. Live Nation had no comment while talks continued.