VENUE NEWS: House Of Blues Concerts To Promote At Maryhill Winery Amphitheatre & Minnesota Timberwolves And Nederlander Partner At Target Center

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — House of Blues Concerts has inked a deal with the 4,000-seat Maryhill Winery Amphitheatre in Goldendale, WA, to promote its 2004 summer concert series. The first concert of the summer series will be held in late July. The season’s lineup of performers will be announced in May.

"We are extremely pleased to have House of Blues on board to book artists and promote our amphitheatre," said Craig Leuthold, co-owner of Maryhill Winery Amphitheatre. "House of Blues brings huge brand awareness in the U.S. and Canada as well as experience with some of the region's most successful venues such as the Gorge at George and Chateau St. Michelle."

"Maryhill's breathtaking scenery makes it a place where concert goers can have a remarkable experience listening to their favorite artist," said Jeff Trisler, vice president of music for House of Blues. "As the amphitheatre matures, we won't have any challenge convincing top-name artists that Maryhill is the place to play."

Maryhill Winery amphitheatre is built into an existing slope on the grounds next to the Maryhill Winery and tasting room and offers breathtaking views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge. –Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner

On the Web: Maryhill Winery

Minnesota Timberwolves And Nederlander Partner At Target Center

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The Minnesota Timberwolves and Nederlander Organization have been approved by the Minneapolis City Council to jointly manage, operate and book Target Center in Minneapolis. The new joint venture established will be called Midwest Entertainment and becomes effective on May 1.

Under the new agreement, the Minnesota Timberwolves will concentrate on personnel, day-to-day operations and management of the venue, while Nederlander will focus on booking and promoting events for the 19,000 seat facility. Nederlander plans to maintain its booking relationship with former Target Center manager Clear Channel Entertainment therefore ensuring a seamless transition between managers.

"We're excited about what this change means to our fans and concert goers in the Twin Cities market," said Minnesota Timberwolves president Rob Moor. "This new arrangement will allow us to make both the customer service and structural changes needed to deliver a superior entertainment experience. We look forward to working in partnership with Nederlander to strengthen Target Center's position as the best arena in the Upper Midwest."

"Nederlander prides itself on delivering quality live entertainment throughout the world," said James L. Nederlander Jr., President of Nederlander Organization. "We are thrilled to be working with Glen Taylor at the Target Center and feel the combination of our two organizations will greatly enhance the arena."

Target Center, located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, is one of the premiere entertainment facilities in the country hosting over 250 event days annually. Target Center is home to the NBA's Midwest Division champion Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA's Minnesota Lynx.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are owned by a limited partnership whose general partner is Taylor Sports Group, a company owned solely by Glen Taylor. Taylor is chairman of the Board of Taylor Corporation with companies in the printing, marketing and electronics industries. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen

The Palace Ups The Ante In San Joaquin Valley's Casino Wars

SANTA ROSA RANCHERIA, CA (AP) – A Lemoore-area tribe has started a multimillion dollar expansion of its casino, planning to add a hotel and other resort amenities in a project officials hope will create up to 400 jobs.

The Tachi Yokut tribe's Palace Indian Gaming center will add a seven-story hotel with swimming pools, a day spa, restaurant and a 2,000-seat amphitheater in addition to expanding its gaming area, Palace General Manager Adam Gonzales said.

The center has seen a 65 percent increase in poker revenue in the last six months, table games director Chris Charlwood said. The new project will add 19 more poker and blackjack tables.

The groundbreaking ceremony was officiated Tuesday by Tachi Yokut Chairman and spiritual leader Clarence Atwell.

After making offerings to safeguard the future of the tribe, he talked about the changes in the open fields he knew as a boy, where tribal members once hunted rabbits for dinner. He remembered the water pump he drank from as a child.

"I see a new pump out here, with a handle. You pull the handle, and it gives you money," he joked to about 50 people who attended the ceremony.

The new additions should open by December 2005.

www.thepalace.net

Fire Marshal Loses Title After Disclosures

ATLANTA – Atlanta's fire marshal has been stripped of his title after disclosures that he moonlighted at Turner Field even though the baseball stadium was never granted fire safety permits.

Fire Chief Dennis Rubin said Thursday that Nathaniel Grissom ''has been reassigned.'

Turner Field had not been inspected by fire officials for the nearly seven years it has been hosting Atlanta Braves games. Grissom and Liz Summers, the city's chief of fire safety education, were part-time employees of Turner Properties as in-house fire marshals. Rubin announced a policy banning all high-level fire officials from working private jobs 'at venues where we have fire prevention responsibilities.'

Rubin, hired as fire chief in December, said he would check the records of ''all public venues'' in Atlanta, including bars, concert halls and other sports venues, including Philips Arena.

'My prayer,' he said, 'is that this was an aberration.'

Turner Field workers, accompanied by a fire safety inspector, worked until nearly midnight Wednesday night to correct the last of the 108 fire code violations that inspectors uncovered at the 50,000-seat baseball stadium in March.

Rubin characterized the violations as minor and on Thursday said, 'To my knowledge, everything is in order.'

McGrew New GM Of Miami Convocation Center

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Patrick L. McGrew is the new general manager of the Miami Convocation Center. McGrew, who formerly was the facility's assistant general manager and director of operations, will now oversee all of the day-to-day operations of the 7,000-seat sports and entertainment venue on the University of Miami campus, including booking and scheduling of events, marketing and promoting the facility and its events.

"Patrick's expertise in facility management made him a solid assistant general manager since joining Global Spectrum at the UM Convocation Center. His promotion is well earned and well deserved," said Global Spectrum President Michel Sauers. "I know he will help maintain the high level of service that our company provides to the University of Miami and to visitors attending events at the Convocation Center."

McGrew joined Global Spectrum in 2002 after serving as assistant general manager and director of operations of the Miami Arena. He also spent one season (1999-2000) as the event manager for the American Airlines Arena in Miami, FL. McGrew's first position in facility management after graduating from Florida Atlantic University was as assistant director of stadium operations and public relations for the New York Yankees from l989-l994. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen