REO Speedwagon vs. Stone Temple Pilots; DeLuna Fest vs. Fall Concert Series; Young Turks vs. Old Money; Real Plan vs. Vague Statements
On June 23, Robert Rinke requested $500,000 in Island Beautification money to purchase or rent a stage for a series of beach concerts to drum up beach tourism derailed by the BP oil spill. The TDC seems willing to throw in another $500,000 for the concert series after Rinke told them he had the Beach Boys under contract.
Rinke has brought the concert series at the roundtable meeting with Carol Browner last Thursday and this past Tuesday at the public forum with Ken Feinberg.
Nearly two months later, details are still lacking. Pensacola Beach tourism is built on the “drive” markets of Birmingham, Atlanta, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Jackson. How well can a concert series compete with college football and the NFL Saints? Will fans forgo their favorite college team to come hear REO Speedwagon?
Meanwhile DeLuna Fest will present to the TDC today a proposal for the BP advertising dollars to expand their music festival to a third day.
Here is Deluna’s presentation to the SRIA.