Local residents will once again be able to rock and roll for free this summer. The Charlottesville Downtown Foundation, sponsor of the popular downtown summer concert series Fridays after Five, rescinded the $3 admission fee instituted last year and will once again sponsor free concerts from the first week of May to the third week of September.
A combination of a wet summer and the unpopular fee decreased attendance last year, which meant that the revenue from the fee did not cover the costs, Charlottesville Vice Mayor Meredith Richards said.
A decline in sponsorship necessitated the initial fee, Richards said.
"With the revenue declining, they felt that they needed to do something to boost attendance so they brought in larger, more costly bands," she said. "I think it was an experiment that failed."
The city agreed to reduce its fees for police officers, utilities and trash clean up, allowing the Charlottesville Downtown Foundation to sponsor events at no cost this summer, CDF Treasurer Jim Baldi said.
Construction of a new amphitheater will shorten this summer's concert season as work on the amphitheater will begin in late August, Baldi said. The new amphitheater will be located in the same location as the old one.
The City owns the amphitheater, and the reconstruction is part of the City's overall effort to renovate the Downtown Mall, Richards said.
Seventh Street will be bricked over to become part of the mall, Richards said. She added that there will be a new transportation center for buses, a visitors' center and a gallery on Water Street.
The City is turning over the construction of the amphitheater to the Charlottesville Industrial Development Authority. The new amphitheater will house 3,000 seats under a covered awning, Richards said.
Coran Capshaw, Dave Matthews Band manager, is also working on the project, she said.
"He has shown great interest in redeveloping the amphitheater and plans to bring highly visible rock bands to the amphitheater," Richards said.
The band selection committee currently is planning the summer's lineup, Baldi said. He also said the committee is planning on scheduling a greater number of smaller and local bands this season.
Sponsorship money and beer sales support the concerts, Baldi said. The CDF charges fees for company's to have their name displayed on banners at the concerts.
Richards said the new look of the Downtown Mall will bring about more public space for residents to enjoy.
"It should be pretty exciting and bring a lot of people to the Downtown Mall," she said.
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