Osage Creek Performing Arts Center on track for 2011 opening
Back in June, we wrote about Greg Smith of Fort Smith, and his plan to build a large amphitheater in Northwest Arkansas for concerts and events on some land in rural Benton County.
Six months later, the Osage Creek Performing Arts Center is much closer to becoming a reality.
The new amphitheater and festival facility will be located on an 856-acre patch of land along Logan Cave Road between Tontitown and Siloam Springs. The site is 22.5 miles from Dickson St., and just 12 miles from XNA Regional Airport.
A rendering of the site has been completed by Tom Johnson of Johnson/Troillett Architecture of Eureka Springs, including a 16,000-seat natural amphitheater, full camping facilities, VIP areas, and a 90-by-100-foot stage.
The facility will be “completely green,” says Bert Piraino, who will serve as VP of Operations for the venue. “Geothermal energy, solar, wind, water reclamation, and a new concept using perpetual motors are all things that are incorporated into the plans,” he told us this week.
Piraino, as well as locals Jason Bigbee and Chance Chapman were enlisted by Smith to begin promoting, planning, and booking concerts for the new venue.
Piraino has fifteen years experience in the music industry, though he became involved with music in an unlikely way. “I was at a Grateful Dead show, and I got hit by a golf cart driven by (legendary music promoter) Bill Graham. On the way to the medical tent, I talked him into giving me a job,” Piraino said. He then went on to work for Bill Graham Presents (now Live Nation) and Grateful Dead Productions promoting shows for The Grateful Dead, Phish, Dave Matthews Band and others.
Bigbee is owner of Ozark Glassworks here in Fayetteville, as well as local music production company OG Entertainment. He became involved in the electronic music scene in Fort Collins, Colo. and says he decided to move to Fayetteville “to bring more music to town.” Bigbee will be doing a lot of the booking for Osage Creek.
“You have bands going from Dallas to Kansas City and from Tulsa to St. Louis,” Bigbee said. “From a booking standpoint, we’re right in between those places and we think we can be a stop for those bands now.”
The group says they believe the venue will have an economic benefit on the surrounding area. In addition to building the amphitheater, they say that plans are in the works to have booths for local artists, artisans, crafters, jewelers and more.
“We want to create something that benefits the area as a whole. We think we can create enough tax dollars and new business development to really make a difference here,” Piraino said.
“I think about people like Bruce Walker, and his guitar straps. We have painters and potters and people who make jewelry. We want to make that a central part of our vendor area. We feel like it’s more than building an amphitheater. We feel it’s the beginning of creating a whole new, creative industry here,” said Piraino.
Osage Creek is hoping to bring around 20-25 large concerts a year to the area, as well as a large music festival once or twice a year. Bigbee was mum on specific artists that he is negotiating with, but promised that big things are in the works.
“We’ve got some stuff right now that we are working on that people are not going to believe. There are quite a few bands who are chomping at the bit to get over here. In fact they’re calling us,” Bigbee said.
Construction will begin later this winter with a tentative completion date set for Fall 2010. The first season of music is scheduled for Spring 2011.
Piraino said that he hopes to begin announcing artists within the next 60 days.
Artist rendering of the Osage Creek Performing Arts Center.
Comments
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By chris-os on December 11th, 2009
awesome. ****. music.
By sarah ann on December 11th, 2009
i am so very excited about this. it will be incredible!
By Me on December 11th, 2009
This sounds great, but does anyone know why they don’t use Arvest ballpark for any good shows now?
By mpetty on December 11th, 2009
Woo hoo!
But perpetual motors? C’mon.
Ok.. back to celebrating
By Sooie501 on December 11th, 2009
Is that in Benton County? Will it be dry?
By Laurie on December 11th, 2009
Oh my goodness this makes me happy!!!
By Zaff on December 11th, 2009
I like music
By Me on December 11th, 2009
Hah, I didn’t notice they said perpetual motors… if that were true the amphitheater would be a non-event in comparison!
By burgerboy on December 11th, 2009
Great news. This is **** <—- FOUR STAR NEWS.
By Barney on December 11th, 2009
Andy this sure sounds like a lot of Benton County Law to me…
By Tim Hill on December 12th, 2009
I’m so excited! I only hope that we can have a full representation of music. My ears love all kinds of music, but my heart loves bluegrass! Will their be any bluegrass festivals or concerts? Hope so!
Tim Hill
new.highway@yahoo.com
http://www.newhighway.net
By Wld Bill -31 on December 12th, 2009
IT’s about time,I know it will be honored by all musican to have this in NW ArKansas.
By Dgold on December 12th, 2009
Sounds good! Keep me posted.
By Boggy Creek Creature on December 12th, 2009
Perpetual motors! And the entire compound would be powered by love and hot hippie chicks! Whoo!
I’m all for another big venue bringing big names in NWA, especially one where I can camp, but it’s going to make me extremely nervous having to drive through Tonitown or Elm Springs to get there.
There’s a lot of loud voices out there and I’m willing to bet that Phish isn’t anything they’d put up with.
By Mike Clark on December 12th, 2009
Hell yes, hopefully they get an alcohol permit, or allow us to Bring Our Own.
@Boggy – I wonder if those voices will be as loud when money starts pouring in from all over the region.
By 07stiltd on December 12th, 2009
Make it happen and I will be there :)
Hopefully you can get some good electronica shows. They are severely lacking here in NWA :(
By Lo on December 13th, 2009
don’t wanna sound like a debbie downer, but any word on where the money is coming from for this guy? sounds great…and massively expensive.
By Lo on December 13th, 2009
Asked and answered, I guess.
“The Osage Creek Performing Arts Center is out for bid now, with construction slated to begin next spring and completion next fall, said Bert Piraino, operations manager for Osage Creek Development Partnership.
The $20 million project is financed by a private investor Piraino declined to name.”
– http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2009/dec/05/manager-event-venue-track/?nwa-state
Congrats, NW Arkansas. We have a sugar daddy.
By High Hopes on December 13th, 2009
I hope they can make it happen. Some points to ponder:
1. Benton County is dry–and I don’t think the ABC will grant them a private club permit. So no alcohol. There’s one major revenue stream gone.
2. 25 major shows a year? That’s 2 a month! Plus two major festivals? That’s a really ambitious production schedule. And I don’t think you are going to get much attendance at an outdoor venue in the winter…..
3. 16,000 seats is a LOT of seats to fill. Think 3/4 of Bud Walton Arena. Even with “A” list bands, it’s going to be a tall order. Plus the winter….
4. Jason’s right. NWA is a good stop for bands and others going from one major city to another. But they play those cities on the weekends, so NWA is a great stop for the middle of the week. See #3.
5. I really wouldn’t want to follow thousands of vehicles several miles down a dirt road to get there. It costs a lot of money to pave and maintain roads. And where are all these vehicles going to park?
As much as we may want to think we are a big city, NWA just doesn’t have the population and drawing power to support a venue like this. I see a lot of issues that don’t seem to be being addressed. Good luck all.
By yrfuneralmytrial on December 14th, 2009
The ABC can issue “picnic” permits that are good for the duration of events. Similar to the beer garden during BBBBQ. I woudn’t sink 20 million of my money into it but big risks often offer the biggest rewards. So, who knows? I wish them the best.
By High Hopes on December 14th, 2009
Ah, true, but “picnic” permits (officially “Beer Festival Permit”) are for events, not permanent facilities. The ABC won’t let you call 20-25 shows a year a series of individual “events”. And you can’t sell alcohol in an area designated dry without a private club permit.
Again, I wish them luck, but it’s going to be a tall mountain to climb. However, you are right, “big risks often offer the biggest rewards”. So maybe we’ll all win in the end!
By George on December 14th, 2009
Perpetual motors. Hehe. And the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to….
Surely these guys have a way to sell booze at the venue. If not, I gotta say it’s going to be a tough sell. I can only keister so many beers. What?
By five by five on December 14th, 2009
yay! this will be awesome! too bad it won’t work.
what’s with this Smith guy? doesn’t he know he’s required to post his ENTIRE business plan online when announcing a new venture?
and what’s with this shoddy Flyer journalism? don’t they know we need every question answered –perhaps before said information is even available– rather than just giving something potentially good to which we can look forward?
(ALL SARCASM)
By Zaff on December 14th, 2009
Soooo may hurdles need to be cleared.
If i were them I would build a venue that seats between 10K and 15K so it would be easier to sell out. I really hope this works out but again, there seems to be a lot of potential pitfalls.
By jesse on December 14th, 2009
I just hope if all this works out, the Osage folks solicit acts outside that genre as well.
By Osage Creek Performing Arts Center on December 14th, 2009
@ highhopes: Generally speaking there are some hurdles to overcome in this project, but we have a dedicated team of “Profesionals”, who are well versed in both the business of music, as well as the business of business. There have been some questions about alcohol sales at the site, and while we expect to be able to overcome that issue, we are not relying on the sale of alcohol to controll the destiny of this project. It’s about MUSIC, All types of music, for all types of people, not just rock and roll. As far as our plan of “selling out” 16,000 seats, why would we want to build a venue of 6,000 – 10,000 seats? The majority of our capacity will be lawn seats, leaving us ample seating in the loge area to “sell out” as you say. There is no other venue of this scale within a 2-300 mile radius. So, in closing. This will be built. It will be successful, obviously there will be some people who are not excited or happy about this project, but we are confident that as a whole it will benefit the entire NW Arkansas area.
By mpetty on December 14th, 2009
@Osage Creek – Don’t let the questions get you down. You guys are doing what all NWA music lovers have been dreaming about since the stage out at Hog Ridge Hollow was built almost a decade ago.
By burgerboy on December 14th, 2009
Between this and the Cherokee Casino, Metro Siloam Springs is becoming a hotbed of sin.
By hype on December 14th, 2009
except that they are doing it with a half assed promoter and a prayer.
By chris tackett on December 14th, 2009
This would be great. High Hopes hits several nails on the head. Couldn’t be more excited for a big venue & great bands to come through the area, but Zaff is right, lots of hurdles.
And I know it’s already been pointed out by others, but really? Perpetual motors? That was really in the quote? It may take the power to defy physics to get this thing built, so that’d be great if they really had those. Jokes aside, good work on the goal to go green during construction. Will reduce operating costs and likely garner some good press, as long as they don’t mention perpetual motors again. Spin that off as a joke, asap.
By Osage Creek Performing Arts Center on December 15th, 2009
@hype: I have worked in concert production probably longer than you have been on this planet. So, half assed? I’ll take that as a compliment. As far as the perpetual motors, the person responsible for that is a gentleman named Hal Roberts who is building one for the U of A as we speak, Google him. I am not a scientist, but I will say that we as a company, are willing to look at any and all types of earth friendly alternatives to fossil fuels.
By chris tackett on December 15th, 2009
@OCPAC re: perpetual motors, i think the terminology is causing the confusion. Usually when people say “perpetual motor” they mean a machine that defies/rewrites the laws of physics and can be turned on and magically produces power w/ no outside fuel or energy source. If that’s what you have in the works you should drop the OCPAC stuff and just hype that machine because that would be a revolutionary energy breakthrough the world has never seen and would likely win a Nobel prize.
If you’re just talking about some other type of sustainable energy, I would just say that and not call it a perpetual motor. People will like to hear there is going to be some sustainable construction and energy practices at your venue. But when you bring up something that seemingly defies the laws of physics, that gets people who understand (or think they understand) physics asking questions, doubting you and ultimately distracting people from your main goal: building a bad ass venue.
Best of luck in the construction. Looking forward to some great shows!
By joeB on December 17th, 2009
after so many years of talking about building something like this. It looks like it may finally happen. Talks about this venue have been in the work for some time and I dont think the talks would have gotten to this point if somebody doesnt believe enough in it to build this beautiful ampitheater, while also making a profit.
Go ahead and build it, so we can finally get a destination that will attract not just people from NWA but from all over the country.
Remember what Kevin Costner said “if you build it they will come”! hahah
Seriously though this is great I just hope it gets done this time and the people financing it don’t back out.
MAKE THIS HAPPEN
By Osage Creek Performing Arts Center on December 17th, 2009
There will be NO backing down! The project is moving along at a fairly brisk pace. Thank You all for your continued support and well wishes.
By Chancevb on December 17th, 2009
Gotta good feeling…. Does everyone realize we’re about to be THE spot for
live music? Watch, help, collaborate…superfluous(ism)!
By C.Anderson on December 18th, 2009
Wow! I am delighted to hear about these plans. This IS going to be the spot for this part of the country and will be heard of nation wide. It’s great to see someone capture the vision of a sustainable venue and make it a reality in our own back yard! Sure there will be hurdles, but nothing worth having comes easy. Keep the wheels turning in the right direction and I’m certain this will be a hit! Hell Yeaahh!!!
By keepupthegoodwork on December 22nd, 2009
Phish! Phish! Phish!
By chancevb on January 21st, 2010
UPDATE: Last night Benton County approved a permit for the use of the festival site at Osage Creek for temporary events.
Facebook: “Osage Creek Performing Arts Center: On with the show….!!!!!! We have approval from Benton County for the Festival site!!!!!!!”
By Dale Kemp on February 21st, 2010
Concerning the “perpetual energy” confusion, perpetual motion has traditionally referred to a device that, once put in motion by an initial input of energy, continues to run forever without any more energy being applied to it. In this case, it apparently means devices being run on solar and/or geothermal power.
Although they have a continuing source of power, the effect is like a perpetual motion machine, in that the input power is from a constant source, the sun and geothermal power.
http://www.earthlinked.com/learn-more/about-our-company
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