An artist’s rendering shows what the AMP would’ve looked like by now if Walton Arts Center officials had secured a long-term lease at the NWA Mall where the venue was set to undergo a $4 million renovation project.
Source: Walton Arts Center
Advertising and Promotion Commission members this week said they want to make sure the Walton Arts Center-owned Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) stays in Fayetteville.
The amphitheater will host at least another season of concerts at its temporary location at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Fayetteville, but officials are still looking for a permanent home for the venue.
Arts center officials had hoped to keep the AMP at its original home near the Northwest Arkansas Mall where it was set to undergo a $4 million renovation. A&P Commissioners were thrilled with the idea and unanimously approved a half-million-dollar pledge request for the project from Peter Lane, president and CEO of the arts center.
The city of Fayetteville has, for years, done whatever they could and almost whatever they were asked to accommodate the Walton Arts Center…I would certainly think that would be a heavyweight factor.
The mall’s new management, however, would not issue a long-term lease for the project which landed the AMP at the fairgrounds where it will stay at least through the 2013 season.
In a Oct. 5 letter to commissioners, Lane thanked the group for its $500,000 pledge, but acknowledged that it was clearly no longer applicable.
He said the search for a permanent AMP location was under way, but noted that Fayetteville wasn’t the only city being considered.
“We will also look at a few other Northwest Arkansas sites that are highly accessible and meet the needs of a major outdoor concert venue,” said Lane in the letter.
Lane made similar comments at the arts center’s most recent board meeting when updating members about the AMP. “We have been approached by some cities and mayors about an alternate location,” Lane said.
A&P Commissioners on Monday said they hope Lane keeps in mind the continued commitment Fayetteville has shown the arts center through the years.
“I think the Walton Arts Center has an obligation to the city of Fayetteville,” said Marilyn Heifner, the commission’s executive director. “The city of Fayetteville stepped up 20 years ago and the citizens voted for a sales tax just for the Walton Arts Center. I think they ought to look to some place inside the Fayetteville city limits to keep (the AMP) here, especially if they’re going to build a 2,200-seat theatre in Bentonville.”
Commissioner Bobby Ferrell, who is also a Ward 3 City Council member, agreed. “The city of Fayetteville has, for years, done whatever they could and almost whatever they were asked to accommodate the Walton Arts Center, including the AMP, so I would certainly think that would be a heavyweight factor.”
A&P chair Maudie Schmitt and commissioner Ching Mong said they’d welcome another request from Lane if a suitable location is found in Fayetteville.
“It would be a worthwhile investment on our part,” said Mong.
“For sure,” said Schmitt. “That’s a big part of what we do.”
I bet it goes in Springdale up by Arvest Park.
great thats all we need, a venue that smells like chicken
They’re going to relocate it to Rogers by the Embassy Suites. Production plans have already been drawn up. The Walton Arts Center couldn’t care less what the city of Fayetteville has done for them over the last 20 years. The new CEO is absolutely driving the brand into the ground, and it’s a terrible thing to watch.
If we had a mayor that understood or cared about the arts in fayetteville, this would not be an issue!
Are you kidding? I’ve seen Mayor Jordan at countless bookstore and library events, First Thursdays, and art openings. You may have not noticed because he wasn’t handshaking or campaigning. Open your eyes next time or continue making ridiculous internet assumptions.
I’m sorry but I’m in no way kidding here. Sure Mayor Jordan goes to many events and I am pleased that he does so. But name one single thing that Jordan has done within the scope of work of being our mayor that has kept the WAC from jumping outside of fayetteville or improved our arts. Simply showing up to these events doesn’t count in my book.
His parking plan is a complete failure.
HIs lack of emphasis to keep the WAC from building its new facilities outside of Fayetteville, another total failure.
His statements for needing for a parking deck are turnning out to be a complete letdown and unsupported.
Supporting BBBQ — disillusionment with our city values.
It was actually Coody’s plan, along with Dickson St. Business, but keep thinking you have any idea what you’re talking about. There’s no way we can debate this because our definitions of art are obviously different. The WAC is going to follow the money so that’s outside of our control.
One thing: First Thursday
Thing 2:
http://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2010/08/03/a-closer-look-at-fayettevilles-wac-expansion-proposal/
(WAC board made the decision to move north. It’s hard to compete with the wealthiest family in the world – funding a city’s cultural explosion.)
CoachIT–
RE “Simply showing up to these events doesn’t count in my book.”
Artists, however, appreciate an audience. Larger audiences at book and poetry readings, art festivals and the like tend to energize the events and improve sales.
RE “His parking plan is a complete failure.”
How so? It makes it easier to find a parking place and it protects residential parking. It’s not even an incomplete failure.
RE “HIs lack of emphasis to keep the WAC from building its new facilities outside of Fayetteville, another total failure.”
Apparently you didn’t see the city/university proposal for expanding WAC facilities. It was by far the best presentation, and would have by far best served the WAC. The mayor had no control over the decision, which apparently had been made before proposals were solicited. Lola has linked to an article about the proposal. See also http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/strategic_planning/documents/WAC_Expan_Proposal.pdf
RE “His statements for needing for a parking deck are turnning out to be a complete letdown and unsupported.”
I guess you don’t like Mr. Coody either. He supports a parking deck, too.
RE “Supporting BBBQ — disillusionment with our city values.”
Although he claimed that he didn’t like it at first, the hydroambulating Mr. Coody himself said just the other day that he supports BB&BBQ.
Thanks for playing. Try again sometime.
I lol’d at hydro-ambulating.
Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinions, and voters will make up their own minds…
…but I feel obligated to correct one point. The Mayor submitted an outstanding proposal to the Walton Arts Center in regards to building the new, large performance hall here. It included numerous street and other infrastructure improvements, and included financial and technical assistance. All told, it offered $31 million in improvements to help make the new performance hall successful. It outclassed the other proposals by orders of magnitude.
In the end, the Walton Arts Center Council decided to take a regional approach to their expansion. I would have made a different decision, but I represent the citizens of Ward 2, not the patrons and donors of their entire service area. I think the WAC Council made their decision based on other criteria, not just the quality of the proposals they received. (If you want to see the City’s proposal, it’s somewhere on the Flyer. I bet you could find it with some searching.)
We enjoy the Amp at it’s current location. We can’t always afford to go out for concerts but on a good clear night we can still sit outside our house and hear some of the music from far away and look at the stars & pretend we’re there. It brought the people on our street closer as most of us have money troubles from kids & heath problems that keep us home. The music gives us a little bit of hope and we found a community within us to lean on for support. We don’t want to lose that.
At it’s current location we can hear the AMP music also, 3 miles away, inside our house, over our tv. It keeps my young kids from being able to go to sleep on concert nights. I can’t even imagine how loud it is if you live closer. I think it needs to be in a less residential area or be more of an amphitheater setup to help contain the sound.
I’m no acoustics expert but I feel that the proposed renovation would have done this exact thing.
Regardless of whether the AMP stays in Fayetteville or not, the city needs to work on the reality that Fayetteville needs a larger scale venue, or even something of medium size (indoors). We’re skipped over by many touring artists, not because we don’t have the community base to fill such venues, but because no such venues really exist.
The city has a 200 acre park off of Wedington that is undeveloped. That may be a good thing to get things going there!
Where exactly is this park? Does it have a name? I had no idea it existed.
Yeah I am not sure I understand what you are referring to here.
Osage creek dead?
nope…. It’s not dead. Maybe Walton’s should check into that venue. It makes the most sense to me.
The WAC would be foolish to move an outdoor venue away from its largest outdoor concert-going base. But whatever. Peter Lane clearly has no agenda other than his own. Unfortunately, that agenda usually remains secret and behind closed doors. Freedom of Information, Peter.
The AMP in Benton County? For what…..gospel/christian rock festivals, more Nugent, fake pop country. What if the vote fails and the county stays dry? When you think lame, just look to the north. :-) Just kidding
We pay sales tax for the WAC??? I believe it’s time we reconsider that tax, seeing as though they are intent on leaving Fayetteville behind! How can we bring that to a vote??
I feel sorry for Heifner & the A&P Commission, it seems they (and the rest of us) are being strung along by an organization that has already made decisions to relocate. What I don’t understand at all is that the Walton Arts Center Council consists of a 3 way partnership between the City of Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas, and the Walton Family Foundation. How in the hell are the appointees to the board from the city & university allowing these decisions to pass? I’d love to hear from these guys how they have justified their decisions –> http://www.waltonartscenter.org/aboutus/boardofdirectors.aspx
Please note that the WAC is expanding, improving and redeveloping their current facility to the tune of $20MM dollars in Fayetteville. While we aren’t getting the larger facility, we were behind the eight ball due to the Walton Foundation’s insistence it be located in Bentonville. The board didn’t have a choice, as the Walton’s are the purse strings.
Fayetteville is the only logical choice in NWA for a rock ‘n’ roll venue. They do need to find a permanent home with a more permanent “feel” because the fair grounds is less than appealing. Osage Creek needs to happen so we can have bigger, better outdoor acts come to NWA. Phish anyone? :)
yes. Phish was just in Oklahoma and it was beautiful. We need to get Walton’s in with InnervisionsINC from Oklahoma who are working with Greg from Osage Creek. FMG(Innervisions) just had their amp taken from them after ten+ years serving Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City Zoo Trust joined forces with the indians/casinos and took it from them. Research it, it was a really unfair process. Either way, they know what the fans want and have been around since the 70′s. Osage creek also has the capacity to have festivals as well as indoor shows on top of the out door amphitheater. This is what NW Arkansas needs for it’s music lovers. IMHO
Why is Fayetteville the only logical choice for this? Many, many successful outdoor venues are either on the outskirts of town, in the more rundown neighborhoods or in suburbs of the larger metropolitan areas. A city in a region such as ours does not HAVE to have this venue within it’s limits. Just having it in the region is important. The venue will need audiences, putting it somewhere central will help with that.
Relocating the AMP to the area around Pinnacle Hills Mall would be the smartest move they could make. The AMP’s attendance figures aren’t that great. I saw one that said less than 14,000 people this year. In reality, all the concerts at the AMP have had less people than 2 sold out games at Arvest Ballpark.
The concerts did even less people in the JC Penny’s parking lot.
I also disagree about the mayor not doing anything. Its because of him, that all the money is being wasted on improvements to the WAC in Fayetteville instead of going forward now with the new Arts Center in Bentonville. Bentonville shouldn’t have to wait until 2018 for the new center.
The mayor is also big on deals with the University of Arkansas. Ok, utilize those facilities. Whether its the baseball stadium, the track venue, Bud Walton, Barnhill or even DW Reynolds. Its ridiculous those facilities aren’t used for major concert events more. Name any other college town whose college arena’s/etc aren’t being used. Whether its OU, LSU etc.
We should be able to have a 2 or 3 day country fest in Fayetteville like LSU has at their stadium.
Those on campus facilities should be opened up to any promoter who wants to rent them and bring in acts. The school is losing out on a ton of revenue. It’s ridiculous the only time Carrie Underwood, KISS or other acts play Bud Walton is during the Walmart Shareholders convention.
Someone above also mentioned Osage Creek. Does anyone know what the status of that facility is these days? If finished, the 15,000 Amphitheater there (5,000 fixed/ 10,000 lawn) would really make The Amp a waste of time and money.
The area next to Arvest ballpark was also mentioned. Does anyone know why Arvest isn’t hosting concerts there? That is a great facility and would be wonderful for acts like Miranda Lambert and others.
“Someone above also mentioned Osage Creek. Does anyone know what the status of that facility is these days? If finished, the 15,000 Amphitheater there (5,000 fixed/ 10,000 lawn) would really make The Amp a waste of time and money.”
I believe it will hold 10,000(don’t quote me), the amp will host festivals, also the option for the tent which holds 3,000 so it could be year round venue.
Osage Creek has the potential to be a beautiful venue, but have you driven there? Driving in and out of that venue is a nightmare when no one is on the road. I can’t even imagine a sold out show.
SO many great music acts played concerts in Barnhill Arena. I agree: why are the UA facilities not being used to bring great entertainment to this area?
They made plans to renovate the original field house / current space science building for just that purpose.
http://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2012/09/05/ua-announces-6-million-gift-for-new-performing-arts-center/
This would be a really small venue, but it’s in the right spirit.
The city of Springdale has never utilized the Arvest Ball park. Why?? That’s a good question. Typical Springdale with their declining sales tax revenue. What a great place for a concert.
The UA and Arvest Ballpark aren’t used more for concerts because they aren’t built for concerts. Lots of special equipment is required. Plus, those spaces are pretty busy with practices and games. Also, thousands of people on the field at Arvest would destroy the turf, I’d imagine.
I likes me some good ol banjo pickin.
I think Fayetteville needs to keep the AMP in the city limits. The Walton Foundation is throwing money around trying to get more arts up north. Whoever wins the Mayoral race needs to have a solid plan for keeping the AMP here. I’m seeing lots of shows around us that I would love to visit but none of them make it to Fayetteville.
MAYOR: find venue for venue. Keep AMP in town. Expand it. Bring bigger acts. Bring the funk to Fayetteville way more often.
Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
I find it quite interesting that the YaYas of the world have not already succumed to the paranoia of their character, and continue to find their life a constant nuisance to others, with disregard to their own self and others in the majority of the community as well. I quite dread the revelation of their true self, as exposure could require their ability to become a hermit for a living. To continue in annoyance as a conversation about the AMP, they would make it one about a sewer plant. Get on board, Get real, or Get out.
Before I begin, David Franks : Get a Day Job, seriously.
What a tool.
N e who, about the topic at hand. The AMP would be much better suited in Fayetteville than anywhere in NWA.
Let’s face it, the AMP is fallable, and what it was : I.E= the tent, is now gone.
The WAC should look to true venue AMP destinations throughout the US, such as RED ROCKS.
The opportunity is in motion for them to gain a RED ROCKS type natural asthetically pleasing atmosphere with mountain breeze, and the absolute best view of downtown Fayetteville.
http://fayettevillemountain.com/
Fayetteville Mountain could offer it all. The most Eco-friendly music faciity in the USA. Solar/Wind Power. Fresh filtered spring water for patrons/ multiple stage locations/Select camping/Mtn Biking/Full Range facility location becoming a national attraction destination within the city limits of Fayetteville.
It may be our only chance. Support the AMPs greatest opportunity in Fayetteville : Fayetteville Mountain!
Get on board, Get real, or Get out!
Now this is a good idea. Avoid the other sprawly locations and create one that is unique to NWA. I like it.
SermnontheMount–
RE “Get a Day Job, seriously.”
It wouldn’t serve the purpose you desire. The careful reader will note that most of my posts are made outside of day-job hours.
RE “What a tool.”
Thanks for signing your comment. However, you forgot to note that the rest of your post as a postscript.
RE “Before I begin, David Franks”
You still haven’t begun to offer any substantive rebuttal to my post. Perhaps you’re too new here to know that your carping is of no consequence to me or to the discussion.
RE “N e who, about the topic at hand.”
You should be aware that my comment was in response to a comment questioning Mr. Jordan’s commitment to the arts, which is relevant to the topic of finding a permanent location for the AMP. It has nothing to do with your complaint that the sewer plant cost overrun became a subject of the thread.
RE “Get on board, Get real, or Get out!”
I take it you won’t be back.
You’re not very good at this. Maybe next time– if there is one– you’ll do better.
RE http://fayettevillemountain.com/
Unfortunately, the site linked here doesn’t indicate the size of the property, nor is it at all clear what part of the mountain is being sold. It is pretty clear, though, that the views from the cleared area at the top are being sold; however, that’s where the parking would most likely go, as it has the most manageable slope. The map pin is on the northwest quadrant of the mountain, and the resulting orientation of an outdoor theater– audience facing downslope to the northwest, with the stage facing southeast– would not be ideal for afternoon and evening use, as the sun would tend to be in the eyes of much of the audience. (There are worse possible orientations.) The topographical map of the site indicates that the slope in the area of the map pin is about 12% average, which is workable, and about the same in the north-facing ravine to the east of the map pin, which appears to be a better location for an outdoor theater, if it is part of the property.
Egress from the site would be excruciating, as it appears traffic would be captive to one road for over a mile and a half, and could not disperse until it reached Huntsville Road, itself a bit of a bottleneck– and then only in two directions. (On the other hand, that permits a lot of stacking off-site.) It is over a mile westward to the next opportunity to disperse further. Access to the stage area for tractor-trailers must also be considered. Much of the feasibility of the site would seem to hinge on the proximity of the property to Dead Horse Mountain Road and CR 169 as it runs northward.
An outdoor theater in this location would not, strictly speaking, prevent the ill effects of sprawl, as such facilities typically take up a lot of land per user. Further, using it would require driving specific to the use because the site is isolated, and developing it would require constriction of a considerable amount of road and parking infrastructure.
It is an intriguing proposal. I would like to see more information about the property, so I will contact the owner.
David,
It doesn’t have to do with anything except that we have to get completely off the subject at hand for you and yours to get back at the one that is. Thank you for your complete brilliance. The size of the Fayetteville Mountain property is in the link, its 137 acres of prime property. Now we know that your the experts of experts… but I have to break it to ya, if you were really in the music biz, you would have to understand that at the TOP of the Mtn is where the magic happens – where the music comes from, not parking… Yes, infrastructure, parking, access to the venue, would be issues without a doubt – as they will be where ever the AMP makes it’s home. Since your such a traffic controller how did you miss that Deadhorse Mtn road goes south, and there would very much be a flow of traffic to the south to be diverted back towards the industrial park area. Yes ,staging would have to occur for traffic flow leading in and out of the venue, it does at every major venue. I managed all traffic/parking operations at Wakarusa for 3 years, so this is the least of our thoughts on how to make venue idea work.
And when I said I did this. I did this. As with 400+ volunteers in the back pocket and 8500 man hours in 4 days of music, parking/traffic mayhem, and fun(for 3 years straight). The reason to bring it up more than anything is to let you understand that the bodies at work here have a very clear understanding of what needs to be done in regards to the issues you bring up, without your input. Your not Peter Lane, or the WAC, or anyone with the AMP. I know, I work there. So I’m not sure why you would consume so much time in clarifying ever single thread that is read on the Flyer. ..?
Now, we all know your going to comment back with a RE:
Why not just let it go this time David. Why do you always have to be so Frank about it?
Living up to your name? I can understand that.
RE “It doesn’t have to do with anything except that we have to get completely off the subject at hand for you and yours to get back at the one that is.”
Whaaaa…?
RE “Thank you for your complete brilliance.”
Thank you for your inescapable perspicacity.
RE “The size of the Fayetteville Mountain property is in the link, its 137 acres of prime property.”
Ah– so it is. The slideshow and captions in the header were not working when I first visited the site.
RE “Now we know that your the experts of experts… ”
As far as I know, you are the only person who knows such a thing.
RE “but I have to break it to ya, if you were really in the music biz, you would have to understand that at the TOP of the Mtn is where the magic happens”
And if you were in the design and development biz, you would know that the most efficient place to put parking is in flat areas and the most efficient place to put sloped uses such as outdoor theaters in on slopes. (You did mention Redrocks, which has stepped seating.) Placement such as you suggest is perverse, unduly expensive, or both. It is not likely that the WAC (or anybody else) would go to the expense of putting parking for ten or fifteen thousand patrons on the sides of Fayetteville Mountain. (Never mind the fact that you would ruin the view from the top, or the logistical problems this would impose for accessibility, even given the AMP’s history of ignoring the issue.) Also note that sloped seating in either location I mentioned would have a pretty good view of Fayetteville.
And, as I was in the music biz a number of years ago, I know that the magic is supposed to happen wherever the music is, and a mountaintop is not required. Heck– Wakarusa was in Kansas for a while.
RE “Since your such a traffic controller how did you miss that Deadhorse Mtn road goes south”
Yet I managed to not get laid off by Ronald Reagan. While it is pretty clear from the pictures that CR 169 goes to the property, there is nothing on the website to indicate that the property is adjacent to Dead Horse Mountain Road. Note that I wrote, “Much of the feasibility of the site would seem to hinge on the proximity of the property to Dead Horse Mountain Road” because I had taken it into consideration. Of course, Dead Horse Mountain Road goes south to not much of anywhere, but at least there’s plenty of room for cars.
RE “I managed all traffic/parking operations at Wakarusa for 3 years”
Then you know that Highway 23 leads south directly to Interstate 40, and north to Highway 16, which is generally less congested than Highway 45 in east Fayetteville. Wakarusa traffic is not disgorged directly into a city, as it would be from Fayetteville Mountain. Egress from Fayetteville Mountain would be far more constricted.
RE “so this is the least of our thoughts on how to make venue idea work.”
It probably shouldn’t have been.
As I said, it’s an intriguing proposal, but that is because there are problems to be solved– not because it’s a magical idea.
RE “And when I said I did this. I did this.”
I certainly never intended to Imply that I think you are a liar; I simply pointed out that there are issues you didn’t appear to have considered.
RE.”Now, we all know your going to comment back with a RE:”
Again, that inescapable perspicacity.
RE “Why not just let it go this time David.”
Because it is an intriguing proposal– so intriguing, in fact that it deserves to be looked at through something other than roseochromic thaumatoptics. You put an idea out there, people are going to comment on it. Try to cope.
I cope exceedingly well, and thank you for such a thorough insight on such short notice. I’m sure someone with the AMP might greatly appreciate it.
I didn’t happen to make mention to red rocks, although I read the same thread on the sermon comment.
Were all just like you chiming in, we don’t make this our afternoon delight… but maybe after today’s progress that you’ve shown… we should begin to make it just that.
RE “I didn’t happen to make mention to red rocks”
As you took up the onus of answering a question I put directly to JesusofDavidFranks, who in turn claimed to have wasted my time spent in responding to SermonontheMount, it naturally appeared to me that you are all the same person. If that is not the case, then this is an example of how being a buttinsky is detrimental to good conversation.
RE [last paragraph]
I’m always happy to encourage, and provide an incentive for, participation in the Flyer’s forums, and to add to the abundant delight already found on the Flyer site.
Oh, yes– since you made a point of mentioning it: does telling people where to park actually mean you were “really in the music biz”?
So pristine, such unspoiled natural beauty. kiss it all goodbye.
There is this assumption by many that the AMP will be most successful here in Fayetteville, and I’m not sure where that assumption comes from. I would like the AMP to stick around, just in the off-chance that they book a decent show. But I think the AMP would do just as well in Rogers or Bentonville as it does here. Its not like the Fayetteville location (ever since it opened) has led to any kind of “funky”, cool, or cutting edge concerts. Its been 99% crap. Country, pop, washed-up rock-n-roll. There have been one or two shows per year with a slightly more hip vibe. Thats it. We haven’t made it cool.
Wow there are a lot of scurrilous comments here, all emanating from the Coody camp. Calling Marr a crook, Jordan a hick and casting aspersions on his daughter… that last one a new low. I’m going to be thrilled before moving to cast a vote against this smug phony.
Yes, desperate, down, and dirty. Looks like someone’s slurs got removed. Thanks, Fayetteville Flyer folks–you’re a classy bunch. Really, you are.
“A superior man, in regard to what he does not know, shows a cautious reserve. If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success.” — Confucius
This whole discussion is a donkey-dance. It is stupid and shameful and petty, not to mention tiresome.
I am sure that this discourse would be elevated if any one of you (aside from Mr. Franks) would be willing to ascribe your given name to your opinion. As it stands it’s just a lot of hyperbole and folderol.
If you don’t have anything good to say . . . . .
There is a site that , while not in Fayetteville,is really close and is in the Fay School district. It’s 114 acres, right on I-540 , and has great scenery. I’ll post a link to a website that lists it.
http://www.parnellgroup.com
The amp is going to Rogers. It seems most of the art center staff is pretty aware of this. It’s unfortunate that a CEO like Peter Lane who is so personable is seemingly obsessed with expansion, neglecting to see the potential in what is currently happening and nurturing that. The city of Fayetteville needs to cut ties and stop bending over backwards for the Walton Arts Center. Figure out the parking situation and stop giving them tax revenue off it. No more A&P funding for broadway shows and artosphere, those are established experiences and the WAC has other means of finding funding! The city needs to start treating it like any other large, valuable organization in town. Stop with the special treatment and forget the feeling that the Walton Arts Center owes the city, because their loyalties and interests certainly do not just lie in Fayetteville anymore.