Advance Redding announces it will no longer manage the Civic Auditorium
The nonprofit, which was created to operate the Civic, has been struggling in recent years to stay afloat financially. It operated the auditorium for more than 14 years.
Advance Redding will no longer manage the Civic Auditorium, and management will be transferred to the city of Redding.
The announcement was made yesterday, a day after the Redding City Council was scheduled to decide on whether to provide up to $400,000 to Advance Redding for transition funding. The council did not authorize the funding and instead voted unanimously to issue a Request for Proposal, or RFP, to see if there’s another nonprofit or for-profit entity interested in running the Civic.
Advance Redding was created more than 14 years ago to operate the Civic as the city was struggling to operate it on its own. Bethel Church leaders organized the nonprofit so that the Civic could stay open, with Bethel among its central users. The church rented space from Advance Redding for its students for a number of years.
After Bethel decided in late 2023 that it would no longer be renting space at the Civic, Advance Redding had to adapt to the loss of a major revenue source. That, combined with impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and a volatile ticket industry, created significant financial challenges for Advance Redding.
The city gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Advance Redding in the past year to help the organization keep operating the Civic, but it was a temporary bandage to the nonprofit’s financial struggles. Advance Redding, along with city staff, determined that it would not be able to continue operating the Civic without continued financial support, which council members said isn’t possible because of the city’s current budget issues.
Council members expressed appreciation for Advance Redding during Tuesday night’s meeting, with council member Jack Munns saying the decision to not continue funding the organization was likely the most taxing one he’s had to make while on the council.
Mayor Mike Littau also shared his appreciation for Advance Redding and his value for the Civic during the meeting.
“It’s more than a building,” he said. “It’s where our community gathers, where kids see their first show, and where we celebrate and grieve.”
Since the council voted to move forward with an RFP, the city will be in search of a new operator of the Civic Auditorium. Littau assured the public in a Facebook post yesterday that the Civic will remain open while the city searches for a new operator, saying the city can take over operations for community events, including the Redding 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, State of the City and Ironman-related events.
Some people expressed skepticism about whether it would be possible for any private or nonprofit entity to successfully operate the Civic, let alone have an interest in doing so in the first place. Redding Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Jones isn’t optimistic, and he pointed out the fact that the auditorium is also in need of costly infrastructural repairs.
“I don’t believe anyone’s going to come forward,” he said. “Certainly, if Advanced Redding can’t figure it out, I don’t think anybody else will, either.”
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How many concerts and shows which would have brought massive revenue to us were not even considered because they were not in line with the Bethel ideology? I remember some great rock and heavy metal shows prior to Advance Redding’s involvement. The building is a terrible eyesore, but fresh revenue could change that. Problem is a lot of entertainment management companies do not want anything to do with Redding. All the best shows are in Corning now.
The saddest thing is, the city canceled, all of those concerts. I’m sure there was a profit. I’m coming our way.
How it will be very hard to book new venues.
There is a certain ex city manager that wants to tear this down. This fits right into his plan.
I always thought $1.25 million riverfront plan. was a joke from day one.Now it will be completely useless.
Perhaps we should give bonuses. Do all the retired city management?That left us holding the bag.
The last two city managers should be charged with fraudulently, lying to city council and spend a little time behind bars
All we need now is for the foundation to promote more spending on some fluffy projects of your tax dollars.
Well, at least Bethel is hopefully out of the picture. Their ten years of power on the city council cost us millions.
Remember when you vote for your next city council, let them not be aligned with Bethel. or the foundation.
In the article it clearly states, “Littau assured the public in a Facebook post yesterday that the Civic will remain open while the city searches for a new operator, saying the city can take over operations for community events”. So why then did I just receive an email indicating all events (concerts mostly, 12 of them, except for two – rock orchestra by candlelight and the nutcracker magical christmas – have all been cancelled and a refund will be issued to all ticket holders?!? I am deeply disappointed that Littau’s word is not good! It seems to me the City already has the money from the event ticket sales, so why not just let “the show go on?” Why disappoint the residents by cancelling due to the non-profit group bailing out??
How nice that the leader at the chamber of commerce, has no faith in the Civic center being operated by another group. But then Todd’s a Bethel cult member and bethel has brought nothing but negative press to Redding.
Remember when Bethel’s “dead raising team” failed to raise a bethel members dead 2 year old from the county morgue!? That brought world wide craziness to Redding. How about the current sexual abuse that’s happened at bethel? Remember the bethel member that was convicted of defrauding fellow Bethel members?? ..Bye,Bye Bethel’s Advanced Redding and no more milking the taxpayers for millions of tax dollars!!
That’s right! Thanks for the reminder.
There is a major story within this article if the Shasta Scout can ferret it out of the article.
I appreciate the straight-forward, plain-English way this article was written. Thank you for making the topic understandable to those of us who don’t follow every issue in detail.
:::yawns:::
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Bethel, don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.
.
My hope is that this will initiate a resurgence of touring musical acts and civic events getting booked by the Cascade. It seemed like Advance Redding was poaching most of the acts passing through Redding on I-5. As a concert venue, the Civic is a sterile, oversized, underattended dump.
Losing the Civic will be a tough loss for
the city. The Civic, Turtle Bay, Rodeo grounds, the Sheraton … and the river
are all beautifully situated to give Redding a unique collection of grand opportunities for the entire north state. Let’s hope someone steps forward.
Good riddance….
Introducing our new jail?
Not a jail…holding site when a blackout/S.D happens. There is a bigger hidden intention to this for sure. Maybe not by advance redding but by the city or their superiors…..yall be cautious