Friday, August 24, 2001
Friday, August 24, 2001 |
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Old amphitheater offices to be renovated By JOHN MUNFORD
Peachtree City's old amphitheater offices will be renovated in the near future so amphitheater staff can move back in and have much-needed space. Currently, the amphitheater staff shares two offices in the building housing recreation department offices near the amphitheater. But more space is needed, amphitheater Director Kristi Rapson told the Peachtree City Development Authority Monday night. The amphitheater's former offices, located at the front of the amphitheater complex, are seen as the solution to the space problems. The renovations, estimated at $200,000, will be funded by the city's hotel-motel tax, which was increased earlier this year by the City Council from 3 percent to 5 percent. The old amphitheater office space is currently used by the Southern Conservation Trust, but when renovations begin the building will have to be unoccupied for a while. The Development Authority, which operates the amphitheater, is negotiating with Southern Conservation Trust to make some arrangements in this regard. Plans are for SCT to have a separate entrance to the building after the renovations are complete, Rapson noted. The designs for the renovations are still underway, but the building will feature a ticket office in the front, Rapson said. "We want the public to be able to walk up, get their tickets and go down to the amphitheater, Rapson said. Rapson said she hopes to end up with a total of four offices for amphitheater staff. Much of the renovations will focus on utilities such as electricity and plumbing, Rapson noted. Rapson also discussed the amphitheater's 2002 budget and noted plans to increase season ticket prices to $125 from the current price of $100. She said the increase is needed to make sure the amphitheater can keep drawing quality acts. "I don't know where you can go to a concert for $25 a night," of the quality the amphitheater presents, Rapson said. Rapson also noted that catering costs and production expenses have risen. The ticket increases are projected to raise an additional $65,000. Amphitheater staff are also studying the purchase of a new computerized ticketing system which could make tickets available for purchase on the Internet, Rapson noted. Such a system would cost approximately $10,000, but the current ticketing system can't be upgraded, Rapson said.
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