Wednesday, August 27, 2003

I would like to publicly apologize to my dear friends who attended the Glen Campbell concert at The Villages Amphitheater in Fayetteville recently. My friends came to town with their 7-month-old son who I had not had the privilege to meet and to see the amphitheater which I had bragged so much about after attending several events.

The apology comes because of the shock they sustained when they were told the charge for the infant would be the normal $25 gate fee. Yes, the progressive City of Fayetteville which seemingly has its act so together and who put on a fantastic summer concert series had to charge this infant a full fare if he were to enter the amphitheater.

My friend was told that it is policy to charge infants to discourage their attendance which is intended to be an adult event. I can certainly understand this policy but if this were indeed the case one would think it would be publicized in the media or other communications so the public would not be faced with this upon arrival. I might also note that another friend was telling me about sitting next to a 4-year-old several rows from the stage and this individual was not charged for this concert or any of the others.

Come on, Fayetteville. You have done such a great job building the amphitheater and getting first class concerts. Let's not ruin a great accomplishment with ridiculous policies.

P.S. The infant, I might add, never made a sound the entire concert.

Jim Winkler

Fayetteville