Atlantic City is still banking on bringing in major concert acts to the resort to help it diversify away from casino gaming through a new deal with major concert promoter AEG Live.
The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has signed a $1.9 million, three-year deal with the promoter to bring major concerts to the resort’s 14,000-seat Boardwalk Hall arena.
AEG has promoted the recent concert tours of Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, Kenny Chesney and Bon Jovi. Attracting such major acts is a cornerstone in the authority’s plans to diversify the city’s attraction.
“Historic Boardwalk Hall is a critical asset in our strategy to bring nongaming attractions to the city, and the positive results of our efforts to date are evident,” CRDA Executive Director John Palmieri said in a press statement. “The CRDA welcomes AEG to Atlantic City and we look forward to working together as we continue to diversify our destination.”
AEG had already booked several major tours into Boardwalk Hall, including Elton John, The Who, Justin Bieber, Usher, Carrie Underwood and Barry Manilow.
Mark Shulman, vice president and general manager for AEG Live Northeast, said the company will look to bring a diverse lineup to Boardwalk Hall beginning this fall through the CRDA pact.
“We’ve had fantastic discussions with the CRDA in their efforts to bring world-class entertainment to Atlantic City,” Shulman said. “That is something we want to assist with.”
The authority also has a $1 million agreement with concert promoter Live Nation to promote at least 12 shows at Boardwalk Hall this year. The Live Nation pact is initially for one year, but includes options for a second and third year.
Live Nation has announced it will produce a concert by Maroon 5 and Nick Jonas on the Atlantic City beachfront Aug. 16. Live Nation also promoted two beachfront concerts last summer by Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum that drew about 120,000 fans.
The authority has also approved about $313,000 in funding to help promote a series of special events through the summer including the resort’s annual airshow, a seafood festival, a triathlon, cultural events and music and ballet.
