Getting Bullish About Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek Amphitheater near Atlanta opens for the season May 19 with a Funk Fest on stage and new management behind the scenes after three employees were fired last month in the wake of a “damning” 2015 audit that found mismanagement of cash, tickets and vendor relations.

Facebook – Wolf Creek Amphitheatre

Live Nation took control of the venue from Fulton County in December after the audit revealed complimentary tickets were being printed and distributed, causing overcrowding of the 5,420-capacity venue.

Box office and petty cash accounts were allegedly mixed, and the audit also revealed a system of preferential treatment of some vendors, all against county policies.

A Fulton County spokesperson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that it isn’t clear if criminal charges are possible.

But the three employees who were fired were all accused of repeatedly violating county policy.

Last year, the first in which income and expenses for the venue weren’t combined with other funds, Wolf Creek generated some $40,000 in profit for Fulton County, which had lost money since 2013.

Under the new management deal, Live Nation will keep the first $500,000 the venue brings in to cover operating expenses. Once that is reached, Live Nation and Fulton County will split profits 50-50, according to the Journal-Constitution.

The county will get 25 percent of sponsorship rights, and naming rights will be available.

Parking remains free, but an option to purchase VIP parking passes will be added, as will concession options. The venue will see upgrades to concession areas as well as sound, light and production.

Live Nation is also expected to bring in more acts and aggressively market the venue.