No one found to run music hall

By ED RUNYAN

runyan@vindy.com

WARREN

The city’s attempt to find a management company to operate Packard Music Hall and end the city’s $250,000 annual subsidy hasn’t produced two-part harmony so far.

Atty. Jim Floyd of the Youngstown law firm Newman, Olson and Kerr volunteered to put together a request for qualifications process, which involved meeting with the parties most involved with the music hall, meeting with three management companies and setting a deadline for last Wednesday to receive proposals.

None of the three companies submitted a proposal, though two of them were interested in continuing the conversation with the city, Floyd said.

Floyd, a Warren resident, offered his assistance at no cost because of his desire to see the music hall prosper.

Floyd said he gained experience in working in the entertainment industry while helping the city of Youngstown in its negotiations to find a manager and management company to run the Covelli Centre.

Mayor Michael O’Brien said the city plans to continue to talk to the two management companies — he would not identify them but said one is from Ohio and one is from outside the state — because there is still a chance that an agreement could be worked out with one of them.

Each company wanted more specific information about the operation of the music hall, O’Brien said, so the city is going to give it to them.

Floyd said he expects to continue to try to work toward a management agreement for the music hall but is aware that it may be more difficult to find one for the music hall than for the Covelli Centre.

One challenge is that the music hall holds about 2,200 people compared with about 8,000 at the Covelli Centre.

The music hall is not available for shows during the 22 dates each year when the Packard Band is playing, and the hall is used for many graduations each year, Floyd noted.

These and other issues have left management companies “scratching their head, trying to figure out where they fit in,” Floyd said.