Management transfer of Civic Auditorium brings new challenges for city of Redding

Advance Redding is officially transferring management of the Civic Auditorium back to the city next month. The process is creating challenges for Redding as staff search for a new manager and face steep maintenance costs that have long been handled by the nonprofit. 

Advance Redding, which was primarily created to run the Civic, operated the entertainment venue for more than 14 years. The management transfer comes after the nonprofit’s yearslong struggle to stay afloat financially, relying on over $1 million in funding from the city over the last year to keep operations going. The nonprofit began facing significant financial challenges after Bethel Church, its central tenant, ended its lease with the nonprofit in 2023. The change coincided, Advance Redding has said, with ticket sales becoming volatile nationwide and operational costs increasing.

The final event hosted by Advance Redding at the Civic was on the Fourth of July. Events after July 4 that were originally scheduled to be held at the Civic under Advance Redding’s management have either been canceled or moved to the Cascade Theatre. A few city-sponsored events will still be held at the venue in the coming months, including parts of the Ironman in August and the Fly Fishers International Conference in September. 

The city is currently searching for new management to operate the Civic, though some are skeptical that the city will be able to find an entity able to successfully run the venue, especially if Advance Redding couldn’t. A spokesperson with the city said Director of Community Services Travis Menne is currently working on a request for proposal to be issued in the next few weeks for those interested in managing the Civic. 

In the meantime, the auditorium will need to be maintained to ensure it remains in good condition and is safeguarded against damage and loss, something the city will now be responsible for. On Tuesday, the city council will consider approving funding for short-term maintenance and operations at a cost of $17,000 a month for about six months, alongside a one-time cost of $5,000. The funding will be pulled from the city’s general fund. 

The monthly funds will specifically pay for utilities, security, staff time for inspections and upkeep and miscellaneous service contracts, including fire alarms and monitoring. The one-time cost is intended to secure the facility with fencing installation, rekeying and other protective measures. 

If approved, the city would start its spending on the Civic at the beginning of August, as Advance Redding’s last day of its lease is July 31. 

The city has invested heavily in Advance Redding over the last year to sustain its operation of the Civic. In May, one day after the city council didn’t authorize spending another $400,000 in transition funding, Advance Redding announced that a mutual agreement with the city regarding ongoing support hadn’t been reached, forcing the organization to cease operation of the Civic. 

In May, the Shasta County Grand Jury took a closer look at the city’s financial support for Advance Redding, concluding that the city council approved support to sustain the Civic without adequate supporting documentation or due diligence. The council will be voting tomorrow night on whether to issue a response to the grand jury’s report. That response partially disagrees with some of the jury’s findings, saying the council relied on an ad hoc committee made up of council members Erin Resner and Tenessa Audette to communicate about Advance Redding’s operations. 

In a press release this May, Advance Redding General manager Julie Dyar reflected on the nonprofit’s efforts, expressing hope for the city’s next steps. 

“Our goal has always been to maximize the Civic’s value as a community asset while balancing the operational realities of running a large public venue,” she said. “We remain hopeful about the Civic Auditorium’s future and the role it will continue to play in serving the community for years to come.” 

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