Entertainment tax on hold

By Lance Martin
Daily Herald Senior Staff Writer
Published/Last Modified on Monday, May 4, 2009 8:39 AM EDT

ROANOKE RAPIDS — City leaders have asked the area’s state lawmakers to put an entertainment tax bill on the back burner until the new operators of the Carolina Crossroads outdoor amphitheater have a chance to launch their enterprise.
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“We wanted to give the people a chance to get their feet on the ground,” Mayor Drewery Beale said of Atlantic One Entertainment LLC, the venue’s new operator. “That’s what I think should be happening. We need to make sure they’re going to make it before we start taxing them.”

The bill introduced in the state House would allow the city to levy an entertainment tax on every admission ticket sold.

The bill proposes a no more than $3 tax on tickets in which the admission fee is at least $5 and more than 5,000 tickets are available.

The bill would not affect tickets sold at The Roanoke Rapids Theatre, only tickets sold at events for events at the outdoor amphitheater at Carolina Crossroads.

According to a copy of the bill sponsored by area legislators Lucy Allen, Angela Bryant and Michael Wray, the city is to use the proceeds collected from the tax to reduce any bond debt associated with construction, improvements of the Roanoke Rapids Music and Entertainment District.

According to the bill, every person, firm, corporation or organization selling admission tickets is to collect the tax.

Atlantic One, headquartered in Rocky Mount, has entered into a lease-purchase agreement with Carolina Crossroads for the amphitheater location. The company plans on building permanent structures on the site and hosting a series of concerts.

Its first concerts are planned for later this month. At a news conference in April, Atlantic One announced two festival style events. On the May 16, the amphitheater will host the Stimulus Festival, an all-day event priced at $1 per ticket, according to company officials. The event will feature vendors, food, crafts, a fun zone and live entertainment by Zapp, the Adam Stone Band and Maurice Wynn.

On May 30, a second all-day festival, dubbed the Frankie Beverly Experience, will feature the R&B act Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. The event will also include appearances by Grammy nominated soul singer Wayna and neosoul artist Calvin Richardson.

Copyright © 2009 Roanoke Daily Herald

Comments

    Citizen Kane wrote on May 8, 2009 1:26 AM:

    " Young People, have you ever been to a Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly Show? I guess not because if you had you would not have posted your comment. This group draws 15 to 18 thousand people per event and is one of the best R&B bands in the industry. They have more gold records and hits than most of the "Young people" acts combined. at least you can understand the words that come out of thier mouth and they actually mean something. Now when the new owners do bring something your speed try buying a ticket and supporting the local economy and maybe they can keep the place going for you and everyone else. By the way can you post an example of someone that young people want to see and will actually buy a ticket for? I'm curious. "

    Bridgette T. wrote on May 5, 2009 11:28 AM:

    " Calvin Richardson is the co-wrote, "There Goes My Baby" sang by Charlie Wilson. For more information on him: myspace.com/calvinrichardson & calvinrichardsonsrss.ning.com

    This show is going to be amazing! Come out and enjoy some real soul music!

    ~B "

    young people wrote on May 4, 2009 10:52 AM:

    " New owners same stuff. Bring some acts that will actually fill seats. Not everyone listens to soul, country, or oldies. Look at the Norva in Norfolk, VA for example. They don't seem have a problem selling tickets. The shows they have at Carolina Crossroads would not be as big as they are if hundreds of tickets were not given away! "

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