"Corporate" Live Nation venue would mar Ybor's indie identity, residents say
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Tom DeGeorge poses by the stage of his venue, Crowbar, which will close July 31 after 20 years. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios
Crowbar owner Tom DeGeorge has raged against Live Nation all the way to Washington, where he testified last month before Congress about how its growth has strained independent venues like his.
- So he was blindsided, but not surprised, when he learned the entertainment giant was planning a move into his backyard.
Why it matters: DeGeorge is among a growing contingent of Ybor residents protesting the proposed Live Nation venue — and what it represents about the historic neighborhood's changing identity.
- That change contributed to DeGeorge's decision during the pandemic to close his Ybor mainstay July 31 after 20 years.
What they're saying: "Our hard work has been rewarded by us getting forced out of the very neighborhoods we built that make these people want to come in," said DeGeorge, who is southeast regional president for the National Independent Venue Association.
State of play: Live Nation and national real estate investor Kettler announced plans for the venue to join the budding Gasworx project, a multimillion-dollar housing, retail and office district aiming to "restore Ybor City to its rightful place as one of America's truly great neighborhoods."
- With a planned three stories and a capacity of 4,300, it's meant to fill a mid-size gap in Tampa's live music scene.
- The project, proposed for North 15th Street between East Third and Fourth avenues, will also support 440 jobs and generate an estimated economic impact of $80 million per year, per the development team.
Yes, but: Letting Live Nation into a cornerstone of Tampa's indie music scene doesn't sit right with residents and longtime Ybor patrons like Angel D'Angelo, who launched a petition against the venue that has amassed more than 12,400 signers.
- Like DeGeorge, D'Angelo has watched the so-called restoration of Ybor drive up costs and push out independent venues including New World Brewery, The Orpheum, Czar and, soon, Crowbar.
- "The last thing we need is a giant corporate venue in Ybor," D'Angelo told Axios.
Zoom out: Adding to the fervor was a jury ruling in April that found Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster were operating as an illegal monopoly, stifling competition and hurting consumers.
- Internal messages emerged from the case that called Tampa concertgoers "so stupid" for paying "outrageous" prices for VIP access at the Live Nation-run MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater.
The other side: "The jury's verdict is not the last word on this matter," Live Nation said in a statement following the ruling.
- Florida market president Brittany Flores acknowledged the comments about concertgoers were hurtful and said they "don't reflect how we view our fans or how we operate."
- As for the mounting criticism against the planned venue, Flores said in a statement that Live Nation and Kettler will "continue listening to community feedback throughout the process to help ensure the project reflects the character and history that make Ybor City so special."
The latest: Along with public backlash, the project hit its first bureaucratic roadblock last month at a meeting of the Barrio Latino Commission, a city board tasked with preserving Ybor's historic character.
Friction point: A healthy live oak tree, protected by local regulations, sits where the venue's entrance lobby and a chunk of seating would go. The development team sought the commission's approval to remove it.
- Commissioners didn't bite, saying they wanted to see more effort put into working around or relocating the tree.
- Board chair and local architect Rich Simmons added that he especially struggles with the venue's proposed size and capacity. "A lot of work could be done here to make this ... a little bit more Ybor-sized," he said.
- The discussion was pushed to a later meeting. Live Nation and Kettler "look forward to sharing additional information and analysis," Flores said.
The intrigue: Residents have pointed out another potential issue: A separate developer is planning a 3,500-seat concert venue just 1.5 miles away as part of an expansion of Water Street.
- That concert hall would be operated by Vinik Sports Group, which runs Benchmark International Arena.
- Flores said the venues "will complement each other" and that Tampa "can support multiple mid-size venues."
- But DeGeorge is skeptical — and he's concerned that having both would hurt smaller independent venues. He supports the Vinik venue, pointing to the group's local roots.
What's next: The Live Nation project will go back before the Barrio Latino Commission on July 28.
- D'Angelo said he and other residents plan to attend and speak.