NIVA Letter to Portland City Council re: Central Eastside Concert Venue
Portland City Council
1221 SW 4th Ave, Room 340 Portland, OR 97204
September 19, 2024
Re: Docket LU 23-111784 CU AD (Central Eastside Concert Venue) – September 19, 2024
Dear Members of the Portland City Council:
I write on behalf of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), the national trade association for independent venues, promoters, festivals, and performing arts centers with more than 1400 independent stages as members. Our stages are the center of live performance in every community, including music, comedy, theater, spoken word, and dance.
We urge you to require that the new concert venue planned for the Central Eastside be operated and booked by a local independent promoter or venue operator. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Portland’s homegrown independent promoters and venues, national acts and local up-and-coming artists have a place to connect with their fans—and the community has gained an economic and cultural engine.
We are disappointed that the City has not been heeding the legitimate concerns of these promoters and venues. Their ability to continue operating in an already challenging industry will be further hindered by the City’s eagerness to partner with Live Nation—a publicly-traded, multinational conglomerate being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice and 39 state attorneys general for anti-competitive practices.
The City is offering Live Nation significant favorable terms for a Central Eastside concert venue with land the Prosper Portland board has voted to sell them at a fraction of the price it would sell for on the open market—terms rarely extended to independent promoters and venues. The City is giving preferential treatment that poses significant issues for Portland's independent music scene, local businesses, and investment.
Local Small Businesses Must Survive: In cities like Austin, Boston, Des Moines, Philadelphia, and more, local governments’ embrace of Live Nation has led to challenges for independent venues and artists that have invested in their communities for years.
Independent Stages Boost Local Artists: Independent promoters and venues provide essential opportunities for emerging local artists to perform and grow their fan base.
Portland’s Live Economic Impact Fueled By Homegrown Venues: Local independent operators reinvest in the community by creating jobs, supporting local vendors, and stimulating nearby businesses such as restaurants and retail shops. Keeping the venue under local management ensures that economic spending by local and visiting fans stays within Portland, fostering sustainable growth rather than flowing to investors all over the world.
Viable Local Promoter Alternatives to Manage Central Eastside Venue: With a decades-long track record, local promoters have demonstrated they are ready and capable of operating a venue in Central Eastside without compromising Portland's independent spirit.
In light of these concerns, we call on the City of Portland to:
Require that the new venue be operated by a local independent promoter or venue operator.
Protect and nurture Portland's local music ecosystem.
Maintain Portland's unique cultural identity and community engagement.
Ensure that economic benefits remain within the local community.
If the City Council moves forward with this deal in its current form, they are risking the future of independent promoters and venues who have poured their passion, sacrifice, and hard work into building a music scene that is a point of cultural pride and economic development for Portland.
We implore you to take immediate action to safeguard Portland's independent music scene and choose to listen to the local small businesses and nonprofits that have served your community for decades.
We stand ready to assist in any way. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Stephen E. Parker
Executive Director
National Independent Venue Association
