There was a great story this week about a potential $100 million dollar upgrade to Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton.
I think it’s a great idea, but just because you build it, does it mean they will come? Sure, the fans will come, but will the artists?
There was a time that ALL the killer bands came and played at Mizner. It was the easiest and best venue to get into, plenty of parking (and this was pre-Uber), lots of bars and restaurants that you could go early and grab dinner, then afterwards have cocktails all night…here’s some of the shows that I saw: (at least that I remember)
- Don Henley
- Steely Dan
- Boston
- Black Crowes
- Jethro Tull
- John Mellencamp
- Phish
- Tedeschi Trucks (part of the Sunshine Blues festival, and there were 10 bands that day!)
- The Allman Bros
- Rob Thomas
- Counting Crows
- Meatloaf
- 3 Doors Down
Then all of a sudden, the stopped coming! What happened? Well, the Hard Rock Live opened and they outbid Mizner (and to some extent Pompano Beach Amphitheater) for shows and then, slowly but surely, Mizner Park became the dead zone. Yes, a few places still do great business, Kapow Noodle Bar, Dubliner, Yardhouse, but there’s no buzz, the place is kind of “tired” and of course, Covid 19 hasn’t helped. But again, just because they build this $100 million dollar venue, will the artists come? Will they pay them? How will they handle the problem of freeloaders watching the shows in lawn chairs outside the venue?
I’m rooting for you Boca, but there are still lots of questions.
-Paul Castronovo, Concert Goer