NORTH TONAWANDA
North Tonawanda Saturday concerts called off after sponsor and liquor license lost
NORTH TONAWANDA — The promoter of a free outdoor concert series in Gateway Harbor Park has pulled the plug on the last two shows of the season after trying to recover from the loss of its major sponsor and a permit to sell alcohol.
Saturday night’s scheduled performance by Loverboy and an Aug. 30 show featuring Rik Emmett of Triumph have been canceled, Vincent Lesh of Concerts Plus of Western New York announced Wednesday.
Mayor Lawrence V. Soos said Lesh told him Wednesday that attempts were still being made to keep the series going.
“It’s too bad,” Soos said. “The whole community is suffering because of this.”
An undercover police sting at the July 26 concert charged two bartenders with selling alcohol to minors.
The State Liquor Authority then revoked a temporary liquor sales permit held for the series during an Aug. 2 show featuring Dark Star Orchestra.
On Aug. 6, Labatt USA announced it was severing ties with the series that had borne its name since May.
But after two weeks of trying to land a new sponsor, no savior could be found.
“Unfortunately, due to the massive financial loss incurred at the Aug. 2 concert, our main sponsor pulling out of the series and no beer permit in hand,” Lesh said in a written statement, “we have been left with no other option except cancellation.
“We appreciate the continued support we have received from the people and business owners of North Tonawanda,” Lesh continued, “and hope that we can find some resolution to this matter allowing us to produce more concerts at Gateway Park in the years to come.”
In February, the city signed a three-year deal with Concerts Plus and Metropolitan Talent Presents for a series of Saturday night shows.
City police said they were engaging in a regular compliance check when underage decoys were sent in to try to purchase beer at the Gateway venue.
The decoys were able to buy beer tickets without wristbands and were both served beer, a Liquor Authority spokesman said at the time. Concert staff did not ask for their age or for identification, he said.
Other free concerts in Gateway Park scheduled for Wednesday and Friday evenings will go on, as will the planned “Fan The Flame” concert Sunday, Lesh said.
