Live Nation’s Greek Bid Rejected

A motion to send the proposal back to committee for further study was also defeated, meaning the “non-concurrance” recommendation will next go to the full City Council at a future, but undecided, date. The votes represent a big victory for Nederlander Concerts and AEG, which submitted a joint proposal in response to an RFD that was scored lower than that of Live Nation’s.

The city’s Recreation and Parks commission board voted Oct. 31 to forward Live Nation’s proposal to the City Council subcommittee.

“We are pleased that the economic and other major benefits included in our proposal were recognized by the City Council’s committee,” Nederlander CEO Alex Hodges said immediately after the meeting concluded. “We are excited that the committee has rejected the Department of Parks and Recreation’s initial recommendation for Live Nation.

“With the support of over 30,000 individuals from the community who signed our petition, another 4,500 who signed supporter cards, and 12 Neighborhood Councils, representing roughly 240,000 Angelenos, that passed resolutions, the evidence is overwhelming that the Nederlander / AEG Live proposal is in the best interest of the City and the right choice for the future of the iconic Greek. We look forward to the full City Council concurring with the committee,” Hodges concluded.

Live Nation may consider the vote little more than a bump in the road, however.

“Live Nation has delivered a superior proposal that will set a new standard for this iconic venue, with plans to invest heavily to return it to its rightful place as a world-class entertainment destination for fans and artists while being sensitive to neighbors in the surrounding community,” the company said in a statement. “We remain confident that the full City Council will be guided by the merits of our proposal – not the political strong-arm tactics of our opponent. Selecting Live Nation’s superior financial bid has far-reaching repercussions well beyond the Greek Theatre. … Ultimately, the Greek Theatre contract will be awarded by the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners, which has already voted unanimously on behalf of Live Nation – joining Recreation and Parks staff and a panel of independent, expert evaluators.

“We outscored the Nederlander/AEG bid, earning 91% of all possible points compared to their total of 79%. Our commitment to Union labor at the venue is stronger. And our financial proposal is far superior, delivering nearly $10 million more at a minimum, and a total of $30 million more when comparing our guaranteed performance minimum to Nederlander’s historic average.

“We also commit to investing more than twice as much in capital improvements as Nederlander, which failed to complete many of the improvements it promised years ago. Live Nation remains committed to operating the Greek Theatre to the highest standard, driven by hometown pride,” the statement continued.

“Live Nation is a locally-based company. We employ 2,500 people in Los Angeles County through our corporate headquarters and many local venues, which include the House of Blues, the Wiltern Theater and the Palladium. We’re proud to be named the world’s #1 concert promoter by Pollstar magazine for the past eight consecutive years.

“When Nederlander pursued the Greek Theatre contract 15 years ago, the process became so mired in politics that the L.A. Times termed it a ‘Greek Tragedy.’ This year, we are confident the City will avoid a sequel. The extended team at Live Nation is committed to earning this contract and operating the Greek Theatre in a way that will make all of Los Angeles proud.”