New Jersey’s Casino Reinvestment Development Authority announced it will spend .3 million to support entertainment in Atlantic City this summer including a repeat of beach concerts first held last year.
No acts for the two August beach concerts have been announced, but organizers say they want a slightly more diverse line-up of acts than last year when country artists Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum each headlined a show.
Last year both concerts were free, but officials say one of the concerts this year may charge for admission.
Jeff Guaracino, executive director of the Atlantic City Alliance, the marketing arm that is organizing the concerts told the Press of Atlantic City that one show will probably feature country music while the other likely will be pop. The alliance has started negotiations with performers, and an announcement will be made after Memorial Day, he said.
“They will be fabulous. They will be great,” he said. “It is another good thing for the ‘Entertainment Capital of the Jersey Shore.’’’
Other major events planned for the summer include Fourth of July fireworks and the annual Atlantic City Airshow on Sept. 2.
About $1 million of the $1.3 million will be used for the beach concerts.
The Atlantic City Alliance is not funding the concerts since a bill to disband the agency is part of an Atlantic City economic recovery plan that has been languishing in the state legislature since last year.
