DES MOINES, Iowa (CelebrityAccess) Not everybody in Des Moines, Iowa, is happy with Live Nation wanting to bring two rooms to the city.
Live Nation has partnered with the city’s Christensen Development for a proposal to renovate the East Village’s Argonne Armory for $12 million to $15 million, and putting in a 2,000-capacity room and an 800-capacity room, according to the Des Moines Register. It is one of three proposals submitted to the city.
However, “music advocates,” as the paper puts it, created an online petition Monday to oppose Live Nation’s “monolithic approach to business” that would allegedly put locally owned businesses at risk of shutting down.
“While we feel an addition of a music venue would be positive, bringing a corporate conglomerate like Live Nation/Ticketmaster to exclusively operate it and receive tax subsidies is deeply concerning and would be harmful to the Des Moines music economy,” the petition at www.choosedsmmusic.com says.
“These guys will control everything,” Dan Green, director of the 515 Alive Music Festival, told the Register. “They already control the ticketing. It creates a complete monopoly.”
The concern is apparently that Live Nation would control all aspects of a touring coming through Des Moines.
Live Nation will always work with its established partners to ensure responsible programming that benefits the Des Moines community as a whole,” the proposal reportedly states. “We look to continue our regional relationships and welcome the opportunity to work with other city organizations.”
It also suggested Live Nation would bring acts like Young The Giant, Bob Dylan, Barenaked Ladies and Gov’t Mule would appear at the building, although those acts have already made it to Des Moines.
The petition had about 300 signatures at press time.
