Weekend review: few glitches and great time for concert-goers

3 Doors Down and Tony Bennett didn't sell out, but officials were still pleased.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- There were a few stumbles along the way, but the results of opening weekend at the convocation center thrilled city and facility officials.
"We're very excited about the way the first two events were handled," said city Finance Director David Bozanich, who went to Sunday's Tony Bennett concert. "We have a few things to improve upon, and people have to get used to the inside of the facility, but the weekend went well."
Neither Bennett's Sunday concert nor Saturday's 3 Doors Down concert, the facility's first paid event, sold out, said Matt Hufnagel, the facility's director of sales and marketing.
Capacity for 3 Doors Down was 6,000, and 5,000 for Bennett. Center officials release attendance figures for sellouts only. Bozanich estimated the Bennett concert crowd at about 4,000.
Success overall
Even though neither show sold out, center officials were happy with the results.
"Both shows did well. We had great turnouts. We are very pleased. The events more than met our expectations," Hufnagel said.
Hufnagel and Bozanich said a few issues need to be addressed, and that they believe as more events are held at the facility, fewer glitches will result.
Center staff members had some trouble getting ticket-holders to their seats because they aren't familiar with the new facility, Hufnagel said.
"It gets better with experience," he said.
Concession sales were better at the 3 Doors Down concert compared with Bennett, Hufnagel said. That's because the Saturday event lasted more than 31/2 hours -- with two opening bands -- and two intermissions. Bennett performed for about 90 minutes without an intermission.
Traffic flow to the more than 2,000 spots in parking decks and lots near the facility needs a little improvement, Bozanich said.
"There were no major delays, but people need to get a feel as to where they should park," he said. "We have to improve upon the parking situation to get people to lots and decks, and we will make improvements. It's a learning curve."
Businesses fare well
A number of bars and restaurants near the facility saw spikes in business Saturday and Sunday because of the concerts, Bozanich, Hufnagel and Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. said.
"The center is providing some needed financial spinoff for downtown restaurants and bars," Bozanich said.
Anthony's On The River on Oak Hill Avenue is closed Sundays and Mondays. But Anthony Saadey, the restaurant/bar owner, decided to open Sunday for the Bennett concert because the business received numerous calls from people looking to make reservations for that day.
"We were booked solid before and after the concert," he said. "It was crowded before the concert and 15 minutes after it was done, it was crowded again. It was a wonderful experience. We had a waiting list and had to turn some people away."
Saadey plans to open the restaurant on Sundays and Mondays if there is an event at the center.
Police presence
Police maintained a high visibility for the weekend's events and no problems were reported, Bush said. Traffic was well maintained and police received no parking complaints, such as blocked driveways or fire hydrants, Bush said.
The police department's motorcycle officers worked both days, he said. Officers aided those who needed to find parking and patrolled downtown streets when entertainers took to the stage.
Convocation center employees and police get three more cracks at working out the bugs this week beginning with the Australian Pink Floyd tribute show Wednesday, and the first two home games, played Friday and Saturday, for the Youngstown SteelHounds minor league hockey team.