It's nice you're willing to play your guitar at the amphitheater, but what worked in the 80s isn't what people are looking for today. Leslee was there back in the Opry days, which weren't "free" but people paid by the carload, $5 a car for as many people as you could cram into one car (no minivans then). There were lots of splinters in the bum and the sound was awful. The good ole days were quaint, but not great. It ended because most of the cars were coming from outside of Fayette. Kind of funny that the current amphitheater people are intentionally trying to draw audiences from outside of the county, yet that's what ended the McIntosh Opry. Looks like it's ending the summer concert series now.

"If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it."
- Thomas Jefferson

The Amphitheater and Tennis Center are of course on their way out.

They are difficult to run and make a profit, so the best thing to do is to shut them down and get rid of the headache instead of someone saying,"get out there and make it work or you are fired!!

Also, this is why we have no teen center, too hard to run.

This is the first season that we have missed since moving here over six years ago. The concerts were great (38 Special, Styx, CDB) some of which were enjoyable a second time. But, I can only stand to see the Swinging Medallions once, maybe even a half show. If PTC wants this venue to survive, they need to hire someone with a promotional background, or a talent management. There are many great bands out there that we would love to see, but the asking price for those tickets make it near impossible to book them at the Fred. We won't get the Eagles or Van Halen, but maybe Journey would be interested.

How are the sponsors going to cope with the lack of patrons (i.e. Rennai, Panasonic, etc.)? They will pull sponsorship and the joint will close. It's a sad state of affairs.

For those complaining about the "boozing"...GET OVER IT! It makes no difference if it is a sporting event, concert or a parade. Alcohol is part of it. If some people can't handle their liquor intake and get obnoxious that is their issue, and possibly one for the police to address. I personally don't want to go to a concert and drink Gatorade.

Great comments Dana. BTW, we miss you around the neighborhood. How are things going?

“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”

Why I have even spent two hours without even bottled water!

I guess that makes me a boozing, drunkard heathen. I'll take my George Thoroughgood with one bourbon, one scotch and one beer.

"In the desert, you can't remember your name..." Is that so for you as well? Carry on goofball.

“Every time you vote Democrat God kills a kitten.”

I have also said pretty much the same thing in the past regarding the lack of quality acts and bringing the same acts year after year. This was the first year in 10 years we have not gone to a single concert and it was sad for us because we have it enjoyed it for so long.And we are not alone. We know many people that over the past several years have given up their series tickets because of the acts as well as other reasons. Last year we went to several shows and people were walking out mid way through shows and we heard the same thing for this year. If the Fred is going to survive, council needs to give it to a promoter that knows what they are doing. The authority has not even the slightest idea of what they are doing and the proof is in the results. Loss of money, low ticket sales, crowds walking out,same acts year after year and so on and so on.

They turn down qualified volunteers to have their cronies in there. The Council Rep seems lost on this one..

Agreed...

I quit buying season tickets, not due to talent, but the snottiness of it!
Drunken idiots made it impossible to enjoy the person or the music!

If you wanted to see, you had to stand!

It smelled like a Bud brewery!

The big shots of the town ran the stage stuff! Flags were installed by contractors to the city, speeches were made for conservative beliefs, disguised as patriotism, and so forth.

No room for food to be brought---not along with gallons of wine and beer!

In other words, a hillbilly free for all. They even arrested a drunken Town Manager.

I agree that the crowd is less then considerate. The Friday crowd by far the worst. They have been at work all week and can't wait to get drunk and make fools of themselves. Saturday's much tamer.

I too have given up my tickets. I still go when there is an entertainer worth seeing. Unfortunately these are few and far between.

The brown clown's main problem was that he tried to fix things that were not broken. Christy was a prime example. She managed what she had - perfectly. Yes, she had a subsidy and that was part of the charm.

The brown weasel needed to make a power play and he did. Now we are left with both the Fred and the Tennis Center losing money and no new development coming to PTC.

So, is it better now? Or worse?

As I recall it, Ms. Rapson demanded to be paid like an airline pilot at that time for a simple job. She sued, I think. (Wanted over $100K, maybe).
Someone else in the town budget was making more money than she and she didn't like it. Don't know how their difficulty of responsibilities compared, but let me say that is the kind of thinking that has Atlanta and Fulton County screwed up now with public employees!

What subsidy? What charm? I saw none!

Brown is causing the problems? Isn't that like blaming Herbert Hoover again for our recession now?

We MUST get away from the buddy system in city management!

But you are stepping on a few bloggers toes, and they don't like it very much.

It did not go down that way and you know it!

There were illegalities which were covered up! Mayor Brown wanted no part of such a crooked deal.

Even a Pro golfer actually borrowed a million bucks! He was well paid here! There were no books so who knows how much.

Up to right now, there is no reconciliation of the huge loan by Peachtree National (now Synovus) to the Tennis Center! Considerable management changed hands at that bank for some reason!

If a Tennis Center could make money here there would be a huge one, well managed, by private owners. It was for a few residents! They had a lot of Gravitas, but little hummus.

Exactly what illegalities? Show me were anybody was brought up on charges. You cant.

They were charges made by Steve Brown, as I recall he manged to get the GBI involved or some other state legal authority, and guess what? They found no illegal problems.

What pro golfer borrowed a million bucks?

This again is the sad reality of people like yourself who read this paper and took it as gospel, along with Steve Brown and his endless letters to the editor.

Do you even know who on the Development Authority was the Secretary responsible for keeping the books that you say do not exist.

Stop assuming you know the whole truth, cause you read it here.

Apparently you have seen the loan papers and who signed them since you know the Pro didn't sign them! Got a copy?

Our local Chief of Police turned the thing over to the GBI, he didn't have the guts. GBI doesn't get involved without sworn warrants and court orders from here---there were none.

Thank goodness for the Brown letters!

I assume you also have seen the "books" where it indicates all the answers to my questions? Got a copy?

It is a case of "I want it for us and by golly we will have it any way it takes." The so-called quality of the board at that time knew exactly what was having to be ignored!

Only in war can we violate rules as much as they were here!

Where did you come to your conclusions? Am I correct that you formed your opinion based on what you read from this paper?

Have you ever talked to a single person that was on that Authority, to get another side? Doubt it.

It's clear to me your with nothing better to do than spout your mouth on things you know little to nothing about.

Why do I need to provide you with copies of something your so sure you know is true. Are you aware that the meetings were all open to the public?

Your convinced that the "Brown" letters were gospel, so I dont see myself changing your mind, and I will quit trying, your wasting my time.

My only hope is that rational minds will see people like you for what they are. A big mouth with little facts and plenty of spare time to "blog"

When you can tell me the name of that pro golfer that got a million bucks you let me know. I'll check back from time to time.

bye bye!!!

You know, you sure guess a lot for someone accusing another of the same thing!

Yes I knew and know those old board members.
I never saw anything printed here that was out of line in this paper!

I hope it was a pro tennis player who ran things, not a golfer!

It was a coverup about the Tennis Center to protect many who didn't plan to be crooked but ended up in hot water due to negligence of duties.
"For the good of the town," you know?

You, my friend are trying to continue to coverup!

It seems that everyone who tries to explain this mess leaves enough questions unanswered to further confuse the issue!

Can't we speak plain English once and say the facts only?

What has happened to the over one million dollar debt that the "Pros" got or took with them at the Tennis Center?

How much does the airport get from the H/M tax, also?

Did the Old Peachtree National Bank ever get paid for making the bad loan signed by a hired hand?

What has happened to the Fred? Is attendance the problem? If so, why?

Can't we have a different show on Friday than on Saturday?
Shouldn't a % of the tickets be held for walk-ons? Not enough people can afford or want to buy season tickets, but still want to go occasionally!

Now, as to private enterprise running both entities, why not include the Airport also? Why not the Police and Firemen? Why not the Recreation department?
Aren't we able to run anything as well and cheaper than a for profit?
Why not?

I see private management as a destruction of what they were built for----us! With the exception of moneyed interests!

First, the performers at the Fred aren't even B-Rate performers. The Swinging Medalions? Loverboy? K.C. and the Moonshine Band? Heck, might as well do a re-enactment of the Leave it to Beaver Show or something. That's some old junk there.

If you are serious about real shows with performers under the age of 70, you might want to expand the theater, get rid of the 1970s motif, and expand the parking. Make a real venue for real performances.

On to the Tennis Center: What Tennis Center? Oh, the leaky one over by the new tree-clearing/not-needed strip malls that are being built?

Yep, that tennis center.

I can't believe you guys built a tennis center. Doesn't every neighborhood and apartment complex have three or four unused tennis courts?

I'd be willing to bet that most Peachtree City tennis courts are empty most of the time. I know it's true at the "Tennis Center". In fact, I don't think I've actually seen anyone play there.

They should tear it down and build another big box store or an Applebeesrubytuesdaychilismulligansoutbacklonghorn restaurant.

Thar haz bin sum talke of uh ize rank thar whar the tennis playin plac is now!

I wood jest bet thet a ize rank wood be full at nightime and all!
Id pay a dollar mysef tuh see the buts busted!