Friday, July 13, 2007

Newsy Bits: AEG Expands San Diego Presence

According to George Varga in today's U-T, AEG is stepping up it's game in San Diego by getting most of the team from Viejas Entertainment, including the former president, Steve Redfearn.

Since it's already old blog news, here's the main quote that you should care about because it could mean a big bump if LiveNation is able to kidnap the bands and bring them in to the Street Scene lineup:
Meanwhile, four upcoming Viejas-booked concerts at Embarcadero Marina Park South – shows by Smashing Pumpkins, Hilary Duff, White Stripes and Diana Krall – may now be moved to yet-to-be-determined local venues operated by Live Nation.

Smashing Pumpkins has a day off the weekend of Street Scene, but since they're playing in Seattle that Saturday then Vancouver on Monday, I'm guessing they're not gonna wanna jump on it. White Stripes does seem more plausible as they have the whole weekend off, playing Berkeley on the Friday before Street Scene and Anchorage the Monday after. As I mentioned before, Cold War Kids are on tour with them and had sent out an e-mail with Street Scene on their itinerary though it has since been removed.

I think more competition to beheamoth LiveNation is good, but what I think is getting nutty is the struggle over the large venues. What improvements could they possibly make to Sports Arena to make it a not miserable concert venue? People don't wanna hear a shitty concert. Kelly Clarkson canceled remember? Coors Amphitheatre has been underselling just about every show this summer (Fall Out Boy, anyone?) I can think of maybe a handful of bands that still draw huge on tours. It would be nice if AEG focused more on creating a mid size venue to counter House of Blues and Fourth and B but that doesn't cost $75 a ticket like Humphrey's does for so many shows. We shall see how it all plays out.

Speaking of Street Scene, I missed my chance to meet Rob Hagey last night at the House of Blues. He was there for the Rusted Root show chatting with Jamal while I was trying to get to the bottom of the Di Nigunim situation.

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