Article published September 27, 2009
Arena gears up to host high-profile touring acts
By ROD LOCKWOOD
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Arena rockers, wrestlers, ice dancers, and circus performers who were accustomed to rolling into the Sports Arena and crowding into a makeshift dressing area will swoon when they see the backstage digs at the Lucas County Arena.
Spacious carpeted dressing rooms with private showers and toilet facilities, large mirrors, flat-screen TVs mounted on the walls, comfortable chairs, plenty of room on the walls to put up their own decorations, and lots of space make the new place feel like a high-end hotel.
Add to that a large “green room” that has plenty of elbow room to meet and greet fans — or equip with a bar and turn into a party area — a place to do laundry, and several separate dressing rooms in case the guitar player and lead singer are feuding, and the new place is thoroughly decked out.
Which is necessary for touring acts because they spend so much time on the road that their dressing rooms are important places to relax and catch their breath.
“They want it to feel like home as much as possible,” said Steve Miller, general manager of the new arena and the SeaGate Convention Centre. “They want to decorate it the way they feel comfortable.”
“They” will be people like Jeff Dunham, Daughtry, Lynyrd Skynyrd — who are already scheduled to perform there — and what the arena hopes are plenty more major rock, country, metal, comedy, and family entertainment acts.
The place seats 4,000 to 8,000 depending on the size of the act, and there doesn't appear to be a bad seat in the house.
And the folks doing the entertaining apparently will be just as satisfied as their fans.
Mr. Miller, who previously oversaw the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., said that not only must the acts be taken care of, so must their support crews.
| WHAT'S ON TAP |
Here's the lineup of events scheduled at the Lucas County Arena:
• Oct. 9 — Comedian Jeff Dunham.
• Oct. 10 — “So You Think You Can Dance” tour.
• Oct. 15 — Lynyrd Skynyrd.
• Oct. 31 — Daughtry.
• Nov. 8 — Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
For ticket information, contact Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or online at ticketmaster.com. |
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With that in mind, the arena has room for the staff and managers of the acts.
The delivery area is set up so the crews can pull right up to the arena and unpack their stuff quickly, with easy access to the stage. It's even equipped for groups that don't want to leave their buses.
They can walk directly into the arena and on stage with a minimum of hassle.
But who'd want to do that when they can chill in a nice dressing room, watch TV, and maybe catch a nap?
Contact Rod Lockwood atrlockwood@theblade.com or419-724-6159.
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