St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Unanimously Approves Cultural Events Division Transition to a Nonprofit Organization

The St. Johns County Cultural Events Division operates The St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

St. Johns County, FL (September 7, 2022) – On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the Amphitheatre & Concert Hall Advisory Committee’s (ACHAC) recommendation to shift the St. Johns County Cultural Events Division to a local nonprofit organization. The approval of the committee’s recommendation will allow the Cultural Events Division to function as a private business with the intention of alleviating governmental process constraints and further enhancing its economic impact on St. Johns County

The Amphitheatre & Concert Hall Advisory Committee was created by the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners on May 17, 2022, through Resolution No. 2022-167. The committee was formed by the Board of County Commissioners with the primary responsibility to serve in an advisory capacity; and provide new ideas, suggest changes,
and explore alternate organizational options for the Cultural Events Division

During the Commissioners Meeting on Tuesday, the Amphitheatre and Concert Hall Advisory Committee provided an in- depth presentation of their findings, which was founded on County Staff input, fact-based dialogue, and over 500 hours in collective work since first meeting on June 21, 2022. It was determined that the business of Cultural Events requires greater flexibility than what government can allow, and conversely, that government requires greater conformity than
what the fast-paced entertainment industry can accommodate.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication of the committee, County Administration and the Board of County Commissioners throughout this process,” said Gabriel Pellicer, General Manager of the Cultural Events Division. “The collaboration behind this recommendation is a true success story and we’re excited to see what the future holds for our community.”

Since its inception in 2007, the Cultural Events Division has evolved to become a major player within live entertainment. In late June, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre ranked #1 in the United States and #2 in the World in industry leading publication, Pollstar Magazine’s, 2022 Mid-Year Ticket Sales Report. Just one week prior, the same Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the funding of Ponte Vedra Concert Hall’s “Balcony Project” expansion, which will
increase the venue’s capacity by over 25%.

“What a historic day for Cultural Events in St. Johns County,” said Dylan Rumrell, Vice-Chair of the Amphitheatre & Concert Hall Advisory Committee. “The current staff are key to the success of this operation and I can assure that this recommendation was appropriately thought out amongst all five committee members. We have complete faith that Cultural Events will only get better.”

The Amphitheatre and Concert Hall Advisory Committee concluded their recommendation by proposing that next steps should involve the creation of a business and transition plan for the local nonprofit. By establishing this sort of public- private partnership, the local nonprofit will be able to maintain Cultural Events’ core guiding principle of being community owned, community operated and community led.

ABOUT THE ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is a state of the art, internationally known performing arts venue located on the perimeter of Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, Florida. Initially built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the city of St. Augustine in 1965, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre has hosted a variety of musical icons including Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, John Legend, Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and hundreds more. In June 2022,
Pollstar Magazine’s 2022 Mid-Year Ticket Sales Report ranked The St. Augustine Amphitheatre #1 in the United States and #2 in the World amongst amphitheatres.
Website: https://www.theamp.com/

ABOUT PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall was built with a modern, historical twist. Constructed from the foundation of a Baptist church in 2011, the renovation and repurpose of the sacred space led to the creation of a premiere entertainment venue in northeast Florida. Operated, programmed, and staffed by the St. Johns County Cultural Events Division, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall hosts over 140 concerts and events each year, and is recognized as a must-play venue among artists.
Address: 1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082
Website: https://www.pvconcerthall.com/