oversaw venues that included College the 12,000-seat Events Center. He was hired not only to run a 13,000-seat building that houses Station basket- ball and volleyball programs but also to bring more nonathletic events and special event program- ming to town. College Station and AFTER UNUSUAL the adjacent city of Bryan are the center of a metropolitan area with Things continue to be quiet across an estimated 273,000 residents FIRST YEAR, DAVIS about an hour north of Greater the venue landscape as the live . Though COVID-19 drove the events industry continues to prepare Feherty date into the rough and READY TO BRING kept things quiet around Reed for a comeback. Here are a few things Arena for a while, events have re- turned, anchored by Aggie sports. we found happening in Texas. MORE SHOWS TO “We did men’s and women’s basketball, and volleyball,” Davis said. “And then around that same time in September, we started doing our home football games (at ) at 25% capacity, which BY ROB KNAPP is right around 25,000 for us, right? So in a 100,000-seat stadi- arren Davis ar- um, that’s still a lot of people.” rived at Texas A&M Beyond sports, Reed Arena University and found his welcomed back Breakaway Minis- first show wrapped up tries, a church service that’s had a with a bow on it. presence on campus for years, Da- “My boss set me up vis said. Its Tuesday night events Dfor success when he hired me. have historically drawn anywhere He said, ‘Hey, it’d be great if you from 2,500 to 10,000 people. could come in the door with an “We ended up getting approved event already in your pocket, for 2,000 people, and in the right?’” said Reed, who became very first … event we had 1,800 general manager of the univer- people in the building, socially sity’s on-campus events center, distanced. (We) used … a seating Reed Arena, about a year ago. model that we did for our sporting “And I said, ‘Oh, that’s great.’ events.” The event, a speaking engage- “It was a pretty easy event to ment with popular golf commen- start with because that event tator David Feherty, was booked, is extremely well-behaved,” he and … said.”They will do exactly what “We put the show on sale the the organizers of the event ask exact day that them to do. No confrontation canceled,” said Reed, referring about wearing masks, none of to the 2020 edition of the annual that. So we had 100% compli- conference and festivals ance on masks, everybody sat built around music and film, an where they were supposed to, did early U.S. victim of the pandem- what they were supposed to do. ic’s arrival. “And I knew when So it was a great event to start that happened, I said, ‘Man, we out.” are in trouble here.’ And so it Preparing to bring people was only about a week later, but back into Reed, Davis discov- then I had to take the show down ered one of the advantages of myself.” working at an institution of Welcome to College Station, higher education. “This is my Mr. Davis. “I knew I was in for a first time ever working at a uni- bit of an interesting ride for the versity campus,” he said. “And remainder of my first year,” he to have resources like your own said. epidemiologist on staff at the Davis said he moved to Texas to university, that’s an advantage AGGIES ALL AROUND:: A fes- be closer to family, coming from that I’ve never been exposed to tival on campus at Texas A&M Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino or had before.” That was in ad- University. in Las Vegas, where he was vice dition to the help and guidance president of entertainment and from the SEC and other schools

36 MARCH 2021 HOT REED: Reed Arena has continued to safely host sports and events during the pandemic.

in the conference. cept. Got it all plotted out, just Davis said the school’s indoor like I do for the arena,” Davis facilities are doing many of the said. “If a show came in tomorrow same things that others are to and told me they wanted to play keep guests safe and healthy in this space, I would have a man- — queuing plan for concession ifest prepared and ready to go and stand lines, designating entry and a budget and everything else.” exit points for restrooms and so Another potential outdoor on — “but I think we’re probably space is a 17-acre parking lot one of the few in the country that called Fan Field that is used as invested in drone technology,” overflow parking for football which allows 13,000 seats to be games, which Davis calls a beau- sanitized in a relatively short tiful space for a festival. amount of time. The drone is Another space, near the being leased from Charlotte, school’s equestrian facility, is North Carolina-based Lucent being targeted for a new festival Technologies. that could debut as soon as when Davis has also brought people students return to campus in outside Reed. “We have done a August or September. parking lot concert, which was my But none of those potential NEW SHERRIFF IN TOWN: Darren Davis arrived from Las Vegas to first ever in my 26-year career,” growth areas diminish what Da- increase nonsports events at Reed and other campus locations. he said. vis sees as great opportunities for “I used the model that Live Reed Arena, in part based on its Nation came out with last year, said Davis. The result was a three- “I quickly recognized that the convenience for tours routing into where they did a few of them with show area run for the band, with arena is a busy, busy arena. So I Texas’ big cities. Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker one outside of Reed and two in looked for other opportunities on “This venue probably has not and a few others,” he said. “And so Houston. campus where we could maybe been on the radar of the agents I took some of the best practices Davis has another drive-in show program events,” he said. His and managers and show produc- from that and created my own and two ticketed events inside eyes soon fell on Kyle Field and its ers, and so my main focus over version of that, and we were able Reed, all for April, that he said 100,000 seats. this next year, now that COVID is to host For King & Country. Sold would be announced soon, and “I quickly developed what I’m kind of winding down, hopefully, out a parking lot concert for 360 another indoor event planned for calling my outdoor amphitheater my main focus is going to be rein- vehicles.” June. The indoor events will likely setup,” he said. The plan involves troducing this venue to the indus- The event came together with have capacity limited to 3,000- 18,000 seats on the west side of try,” he said. “It is a very viable, KSBJ-FM out of Houston. “They 3,500 attendees. the stadium and a performance very legitimate, very good stop on have historically done a lot of Outside of the arena, Davis is area at the base of the bowl. someone’s tour to do shows at this

COURTESY TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (X3) UNIVERSITY A&M TEXAS COURTESY religious events inside of Reed,” seeking out new places for events. “We’ve manifested this con- venue.”

MARCH 2021 37 San Antonio TEXAS MAVERICK: Blayne Tucker was a co-founder of the Maverick Music Festival, which ran for five years BLAYNE TUCKER ON in San Antonio. THE FERTILE MUSIC MARKET 80 MILES FROM AUSTIN

BY ERIC RENNER BROWN

hen VenuesNow reaches San Antonio promoter, venue operator, and entertainment attor- ney Blayne Tucker, Wthe Lone Star State’s second-larg- est city is enduring its coldest temperatures since 1989. Perhaps that’s why Tucker goes for a meta- phor of a tropical nature. “San Antonio tends to be what I think of as the Galapagos Islands of music development, the sort of forgotten place,” he says. “It gets left out in the typical circuit of post-NIVA, post-COVID, post- that sound, and making it its own, history in Central South Texas events.” Save Our Stages and all of that whether you have conjunto and is out of San Antonio, if you dig Tucker grew up in San Antonio, — is that there’s a greater level of tejano music. Long before Austin deep enough. and has spent his life asserting his communication among inde- became what we know as the city’s live mettle, even as Austin, pendent promoters to work with live music capital of the world, What’s your pitch for why art- situated 80 miles northeast, smaller bands to enable them San Antonio was really the place ists should play San Antonio? draws much of the attention. In to have additional stops in their where you would go to big shows. There’s nothing cookie cutter high school, Tucker and his friend routing,” Tucker says. The Sex Pistols came there, , about it. I mean, the history is Manjeri “Kris” Krishna started Tucker connected with Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne. ... where you sit. As a band — and I putting on shows, which Tucker VenuesNow to discuss what sets Unfortunately, law enforcement could speak to this as somebody continued to do as an undergrad- San Antonio apart, his various in those days, San Antonio being that was himself on the road over uate at University of Nevada, ventures, and the critical role he the unique city that it is — over 65- 230 days out of the year — when Las Vegas. When Tucker finished played in the passage of the Save 70% Latino — law enforcement you’re in that kind of regimen, law school in 2005, Manjeri Our Stages Act. used big shows and concerts to things sort of blur together. This introduced him to a new artist he discriminate against Latino mu- is one of those stops along the was working with: Austin-based What differentiates San Anto- sic goers. We became a city that way that you can’t help but realize blues-rocker Gary Clark Jr. nio from other Texas markets? was very averse to diversity, and stand out, because there’s just a Soon, Tucker was serving as a You gotta look at it through used enforcement of marijuana unique sound, flavor, and expe- “utility guy” for Clark, helping a historic lens. The West Side and those sorts of substances to rience to it all that you can’t get with everything from publishing Sound and the West Side of San discriminate and subjugate the anywhere else. legalese to day-to-day road man- Antonio was really the first part Latinos in San Antonio. Getting agement. After tours with Clark, of the country where you had into the late ‘70s and ‘80s, the Why was getting involved with Tucker eventually returned to San Latino, white, and black musi- city council in Austin began to be The Mix important to you? Antonio, providing legal services cians playing together. There was comprised of your more left-lean- It’s been around since ‘97; I’ve

for local venues, purchasing a very vibrant, rich club life going ing, hippie types ... Austin then owned it about five years. It was IMAGESGETTY 180-capacity club The Mix, and on in San Antonio, and a very became a more open city that really the only consistent, long- staging events including La Vil- unique sound, where you had this was friendly to the vibe and the standing, surviving music club lita’s Día de los Muertos and the amalgamation of the influence of nature of what it is to experience (on) St. Mary’s Strip, the enter- Maverick Music Festival, which the accordion (introduced by the) community at a concert and that tainment district of San Antonio ran from 2013 to 2017. German influx of immigrants that sense of togetherness. In reality, for live music where everybody “What I’m hopeful for — came in, then (the area) adopting most of the deeply steeped music comes and plays. The best part

38 MARCH 2021 COURTESY VENUE economy itself. itself. economy the on impact have a significant those and state, the throughout of Texas. It’s jobs over 200,000 state the revenue in tax annual in it’s too, million $390 that, all it is While ofdrinks. abunch having time, agood having fun, having It’s works. just not business our ofhow terms in them ly educating real- Also, got that. They aisle. the side of that on folks with heavily to resonate seemed really That ... compensation. ofjust form some can’t without do they that down, you ofshuts sort and ment comes govern- when —that Amendment Fifth ofthe Clause Takings the under to something this gizing analo- we started on, Early out. ahand- or bailout culture and arts isn’t you an know, this side was, Republican lot ofdelegates the on a with resonated What ... Antonio. San in got divorced my parents when to my mother door next lived mother his Actually, there. guy. He wentdown to law school Antonio San anative is Cornyn) John co-sponsor Stages Our Save and whip minority (Senate made. to be case we asolid had Weanswer. won’t Iknew stop. – Idon’t “no” take an as really that We abusiness less. work in relent- very being just also but story, the was) personalizing (I Texas the possible. as delegation on members’ attention many as effort? lobbyingCongressional NIVA’s assist you did How to come. years to enjoy for continue could people to have that aplace it be lighting the and sound the and stage the with improvements make could how we also but significance, historical collective ofits because sake for own its kept going to be ought that institution an at it as we looked town, in bars other several owns Mahoney, who Steve My partner enough. had just had owner previous The place. the in welcome —feeling people less to home- billionaires from mean Iliterally –and spectrum nomic socioeco- side ofthe every from city the throughout ofpeople tory there’s And his- along everyone. It’s it. to youword, name open spoken singer-songwriter, rock, to to metal to hip-hop country from everything years, over the ofmusic style and kind every in it brings that was Mix The about My role specifically was to get was My role specifically A Austin Germania Insurance Amphitheater at the center. center. the at Amphitheater Insurance Germania KEEPING TRACK BIG SHOWS TO BIGRACES AND LOOKS FORWARD COTA COMPLEX canceled in 2020 for the first first for 2020 the in canceled was which Prix, Grand States United One Formula annual the race, feature circuit’s the announced. been not have tour for dates the Makeup band’s concert. forlonger the alittle have to wait will Austin and intervened COVID-19 but complex, entertainment and racetrack at the year end last Day week-play over Memorial 2020. in concert Stones Rolling BY ROB KNAPP That was in addition to addition in was That to were scheduled Stones The on the big bang ofa bang big the on out missed Americas, ofthe Circuit of the chairman and CEO Epstein, Bobby and fans Texas, ustin, : An aerial photo shows the track with Bold Stadium and and Stadium Bold with track Americas the of Circuit the shows photo aerial : An the NASCAR Cup Series, the the Series, Cup NASCAR the in racing feature will which weekend for ofMay 21-23, the went sale on recently Tickets NASCAR. by visit first the is October, in One of Formula return the year, aside from this details. further share he couldn’t but capacity, limited with end ofApril at the begin will shows Those said. Epstein coming,” announcements ing we have ofexcit- acouple And yesterday. just shows, booking to start got clearance just ally “We actu- news. good some had Epstein —but mid-February in so website track’s said the —at least August in to start was grounds the on Amphitheater Insurance Germania pacity alot ofactivity.” there’s still track, the as well as Center Event the and space meeting use that model launches car or schools er it’s racing on-track wheth- “So year,” said. Epstein for this calendar the events on 200 have than more we still busy. stayed —has track akarting and stadium soccer a5,000-seat amphitheater, an has to aracetrack addition in complex —which 1,500-acre pandemic. the during country the world into the around from drivers of getting difficulty the by hampered 2012, in COTA at run first it was since time The big news for the track track for news the big The at 14,000-ca- activity The and daily, books track “The the meantime, the In MARCH 2021 CONTINUED ON PAGE 40 we’ll see that much crossover, much crossover, that see we’ll “I’m sure not forout NASCAR? more.” not if seats, 40,000 to (thousand) probably 35 is May, in be which we’ll I think where versus area, 25,000 the it probably today, in be would now, we were to have if right seating, reserved your But here. to improve continue conditions as determined being still are capacities seating, reserve and grandstand the “In said. Epstein high,” very is point stand- that from capacity the So around. wander you can so from, track the see you can ows mead- and hills with perimeter Wesion. ofthe have 31/2 miles admis- we have general cause event. COVID-era for crowd a abig to welcome it, offans plenty be should there weekend.” for awonderful make should track off fans for the activities the all as well as action on-track exciting the with Ithink So unique. very is at COTA perince ex- fan the and for drivers, fun and challenging and interesting track’s the is reasons ofthe one “I think said. COTA,” Epstein at NASCAR to see desire the expressing have been opened World Truck Series. Camping the and Series Xfinity Will Formula One fans turn turn fans One Formula Will be- huge is capacity “Our arrives, NASCAR when And we time the from fans “The

39 TOPSTOPS TEXAS Ranked by tickets sold. Based on data from concerts and events Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2020, as reported to Pollstar. Data updated as of Jan. 27.

RANK VENUE TICKETS SOLD CAPACITY GROSS SHOWS MORE THAN 15,000 CAPACITY 1 , 171,776 20,021 $20,859,626 46 2 , Houston 102,264 18,000 $17,721,293 9 3 , Austin 31,534 16,800 $3,258,728 3 4 AT&T Center, San Antonio 26,778 18,000 $2,738,148 4 5 , San Antonio 16,776 65,000 $1,791,974 2 5,001-15,000 CAPACITY 1 Smart Financial Centre, Sugar Land 41,837 6,500 $3,246,147 9 2 H-E-B Center, Cedar Park 34,802 8,700 $2,381,208 24 3 Curtis Culwell Center, Garland 18,100 8,000 $252,575 14 4 Ford Park Arena, Beaumont 9,538 8,500 $363,158 3 5 , Corpus Christi 9,403 10,000 $498,147 2 2,001-5,000 CAPACITY 1 Nutty Brown Amphitheatre, Austin 15,932 4,140 $903,381 23 2 Live at The Moody Theater, Austin 13,617 2,765 $694,874 6 3 Bass Concert Hall, Austin 11,213 2,900 $618,924 5 4 Revention Music Center, Houston 10,302 3,464 $462,556 4 5 Hall at The Long Center, Austin 7,086 2,442 $467,662 4 2,000 OR LESS CAPACITY 1 Emo’s, Austin 19,623 1,550 $479,905 17 2 Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, Midland 18,838 1,827 $832,020 32 3 McAllen Performing Arts Center, McAllen 13,400 1,828 $497,205 19 4 White Oak Music Hall, Houston 10,725 1,400 $254,678 17 5 Scoot Inn, Austin 8,029 1,000 $186,113 10

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39 he said. “One is not having fall,” he said. “And that’s going making use of those parking regularly scheduled events, and to allow us to really develop out lots, concession stands and in that a large percentage of our we look at it as we’re selling a the campus, everything from a restrooms at times that they Formula One buyers come in few major, major events. And garage condominium club on site otherwise would be sitting idle,” from out of town, out of state,” you need to be able to scale up to an industrial center.” Epstein said. he said. your sales abilities for those That’s when Epstein realized And then there are the Rolling “I think the local race fans will big events. But then you have he’d left out the amusement park. Stones, whom Epstein looks turn up,” Epstein said. “And I some downtime. And I think the (That happens when you have a forward to seeing play at COTA. think the same thing with (when) partnership with Elevate’s going lot going on.) “We’re in the pro- Did he ever think he would be we have Moto GP,” an interna- to let us scale up when we need to cess of building out ‘COTA Land,’ welcoming Mick and Keith to tional motorcycle racing circuit and we need the support, but also the first amusement park in Austin? that the track hosts each year. not carry the load of a large room Austin,” he said. “I can’t believe I “Never,” he said with a laugh. “That’s got a large Texas follow- full of people when there’s not so didn’t even say that.” “Never would I have thought that ing. And I think that crowd will much to do.” A children’s park, which was when I stood in in turn up for sure.” With all the complex’s previewed during the track’s (in 2006) and The complex recently made acreage, plans are in the works drive-through holiday light watched from the very back of news when it brought on Elevate for more attractions to draw show, is first to open, and some the crowd with probably 75,000 Sports Ventures to help sell premi- people to the site year-round. thrill rides will join the karting people and just enjoyed the show. um seating, and Epstein talked “We only received our (Planned track already on site. “We’re Never thought I’d be a part of about the new relationship. Unit Development) approval for putting in permanent rides and bringing a concert of that level to “It works for us on two levels,” development and zoning in the structures, shade structures and Austin.”

40 MARCH 2021 Bryan-College Station is located conveniently between five major Texas cities Fort Worth Dallas (87% of Texans) and is an ideal stop on any show’s routed tour. (175 miles) (181 miles) Boasting a local population of over 200,000 full-time residents plus an additional e v i population of another 60,000 students each semester, makes Bryan-College r D e Station the 14th largest city in the State of Texas (moving to a top 10 city when r iv h r D including the student body). Texas A&M University is a regular destination to over 3 Bryan / r h College Station 50,000 season ticket holders for its various athletic events with cross-marketing 5 .

1 opportunities for other non-athletic events.

Austin (110 miles) Houston (95 miles) San Antonio (169 miles)

With a 102,000+ seat capacity, Kyle Field is the 6th largest stadium in the world and the largest stadium in Texas. The venue is home to the Texas A&M Aggie football team and also hosts other special events throughout the year. Kyle Field is the ideal location for outdoor stadium concerts and large scale events.

End Stage Varies by setup West Side Amphitheater 18,706 seats

Prominently located on the Texas A&M University campus, Reed Texas A&M has a variety of unique outdoor spaces for concerts and Arena hosts a variety of events including major touring concerts, events. The most notable are the 6 & 13 acre grass fields located on family shows, private events, motorsports and comedy shows. It the Northwest side of campus. These spaces are ideal for festival also serves as the home court for the Aggie men’s and women’s style events and other outdoor programming. We also have a 17 basketball teams and women’s volleyball team. acre space ideally suited for large-scale outdoor events of any kind.

360 Capacity 12,753 seats 6 acres 18,000 capacity Rodeo/Motorsport 10,910 seats 13 acres Varies by setup (custom) End Stage Capacity 9,375 seats 17 acres 48,000 capacity 1/2 House Capacity 6,310 seats

For booking inquiries contact Darren Davis - General Manager, Reed Arena - 979.862.7330 or [email protected]