In a heated vote, Clearwater chooses Ruth Eckerd Hall over Vinik Sports Group to manage new waterfront amphitheater
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: May 20, 2022

Clearwater City Council entered negotiations with Ruth Eckerd Hall to manage its new downtown amphitheater after voting against the selection committee's recommendations to work with Tampa's Vinik Sports Group.

Earlier this month, a committee comprised of city staff ranked VSG, in a partnership with OVG360, a division of Los Angeles-based Oak View Group, above Ruth Eckerd Hall, which owns and operates the Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre on Cleveland Street, in the analysis of the final two proposals.

The amphitheater is an anchor of Imagine Clearwater — the $84 million Coachman Park redevelopment — which is scheduled to be completed by summer 2023.

Council weighed in on their choice Wednesday night in front of a council chamber filled with attendees, the majority of whom were there to support Ruth Eckerd Hall. City Manager Jon Jennings kicked off the evening by clarifying what he called "allegations" that had arisen over the last few weeks surrounding the final proposals.

“I do feel as though at this point, I’ve got to defend city staff,” Jennings said. “There have been some who have said, who have made allegations that I put the thumb on the scale, which is absolutely categorically not true. There have been emails that have been sent to staff as if they were supporting (OVG360), which I think is unfortunate and frankly not something city staff should have to endure.

"This was not a personal decision against anyone," he said. "This was a decision by city staff the way we’ve done it a hundred or a thousand times in the past to make a recommendation to the city council, and that’s all city staff has done, is make a recommendation.”

The council asked a few further questions from both groups, including whether Ruth Eckerd Hall had the financial wherewithal to support managing a venue of this size and what the partnership broke down to as far as who would be managing the venue for the VSG/OVG360 group. Both groups were also asked to expand on their experience specifically with outdoor venues.

The questioning was then followed by an extensive public comment where many in the crowd — including the grandchildren of the Eckerds for which Ruth Eckerd Hall was named — commented on the decades of investment Ruth Eckerd Hall has poured into the community. Many expressed distaste at the council considering “an outsider” over a Clearwater staple — though VSG is based in Tampa.

Susan Crockett, president and CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall, took time during public comment to reflect on past advice the city has received regarding the amphitheater component of Imagine Clearwater. She said the advice she received was that it “wouldn’t be an economic driver,” that 2,500 seats were enough, that the city would “lose $1.2 million a year” operating it and that it didn’t need a cover. She reminded the council Ruth Eckerd Hall was the one to stand up and say they believed the conclusions, while well-intended, were wrong.

“I thank the other operator because they validated everything we have been saying for five years," Crockett said. "With all due respect, the current conclusion that we are the less qualified operator is also incorrect. While this would be our first managing contract for an amphitheater, clearly, the fact that we have turned parking lots, city parks, beaches and a driving range into amphitheaters hosting concerts of 6,000 plus attendance demonstrates exceptional operational capacity and logistical competence to manage this contract.”

Prior to the vote, things got heated at the dais when Councilman Mark Bunker began detailing some of the feedback they’ve had from the community. He said many assumed that because Ruth Eckerd Hall was so involved in the initial conversation surrounding Imagine Clearwater, it was a “no-brainer” decision on who to select for managing the amphitheater.

He added that some people believe the city is building the amphitheater for Ruth Eckerd Hall and said they couldn’t simply say, “This is the way it’s going to be.” He then said that Mayor Frank Hibbard being a former board member — and at one time the chairman of the board — for Ruth Eckerd Hall “adds to people’s concerns and suspicions.”

“Be careful, Councilmember Bunker, be very careful. I mean it,” Hibbard said.

Hibbard then asked City Attorney David Margolis if he needed to recuse himself. The city attorney said Hibbard did not need to as there was no conflict of interest. Ultimately the council voted 3-2 in favor of Ruth Eckerd, with Hibbard and councilmembers David Allbritton and Lina Teixeira in support of entering negotiations with Ruth Eckerd Hall and councilmembers Kathleen Beckman and Bunker against.

“While we are disappointed in the decision made today, Vinik Sports Group remains a committed community partner to the city of Clearwater and throughout the Tampa Bay Region,” Steve Griggs, CEO of Vinik Sports Group, said. “We value our working relationship with Ruth Eckerd Hall and congratulate them on this new venture.”

A spokeswoman for Ruth Eckerd Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment.