Clearwater moves forward with Ruth Eckerd Hall’s management of waterfront amphitheater
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Dec 23, 2022

Clearwater City Council has approved a venue license agreement with Ruth Eckerd Hall for management services of the waterfront amphitheater being built in Coachman Park.

The city council met on Dec. 15 to discuss the agreement. During a work session, several council members voiced their frustrations earlier that week that they lacked enough time to review the agreement.

Earlier that week Councilmember Lina Teixeira said she was “acutely aware” that any further delays in the process would negatively affect Ruth Eckerd Hall’s ability to succeed in launching the new amphitheater. She and Vice Mayor Kathleen Beckman said they had no choice but to push aside their concerns to get the process moving.

However, by Thursday evening those who had had frustrations at the work session praised the city and Ruth Eckerd Hall for quickly answering their questions and addressing some of their concerns. The group unanimously approved the venue license agreement by the night's end.

The agreement states that Ruth Eckerd Hall must have a minimum of 35 events a year at the amphitheater. The city will have 10 events a year — the details of which will be hashed out later — and the right to use the venue on July 4 and July 5.

In the future, events will be scheduled exclusively through Ruth Eckerd Hall. If a community organization wants to utilize the space, it must go through Ruth Eckerd Hall rather than the city. This could open the door to partnerships with events like graduations or Jazz Holiday.

Ruth Eckerd Hall will be responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the facility, its food and beverage service and most of the insurance. CEO Susan Crockett said the company would spend $2.8 million on start-up equipment.

In the first year, the city is expected to make a profit of $122,000; in the fifth year, it will have a profit of $1.25 million. Crockett said as the venue makes a name for itself further sponsor opportunities will more than likely occur to help increase profit.

The city will also control the amphitheater's naming rights and receive a percentage of each ticket sold, according to the agreement.

The amphitheater is part of the $84 million Imagine Clearwater project, a massive renovation of Coachman Park. The project is expected to complete this summer.