2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsCommittee to suggest entertainers for JQH
Sarah Khan
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Q-1 is a short name for a committee with big tasks ahead of it.
Representing the middle initial of John Q. Hammons and the first year of the new JQH arena, the Q-1 committee has been placed in charge of suggesting entertainment large enough to match expectations of the new arena in its first year.
Randy Blackwood, chairman of the committee, said the first meeting went extremely well.
"It was a very enthusiastic meeting," Blackwood said. "I can already tell that there is a lot of interest and the committee members are genuinely excited to be a part of this."
The goal was to form a committee that covered different groups and different backgrounds from the community and university, Blackwood said. He also said they would soon be naming a student representative for the committee.
"The students are obviously a really important part of helping us put our finger on the pulse of what people are interested in," Blackwood said.
The committee already has its goals set high and has begun to list possible acts to be booked in the new JQH arena. The discussion at the first meeting included names such as The Eagles, Carlos Santana, Dave Matthews Band, Garth Brooks and Beyoncé.
"We are hoping that the newness of the arena and the large seating capacity will allow us to draw a new lineup to the Springfield market," Blackwood said.
Others in the community aren't as optimistic about the entertainment possibilities for JQH.
"I think it's absurd to think a band like The Eagles could play an 11,000 seat venue," said Tom Morris, president of FM Productions.
Morris also said that some of the acts could definitely be a possibility to bring to JQH but in his experience, some would not be feasible.
"I know there are a lot of people who believe in MSU intensely, but the question lies in how much money they are willing to put out," Morris said. "You have to be realistic when you are chasing something as big as this."
"It's definitely a possibility that the venue could do enough fundraising to make some of these acts a possibility" Morris added.
According to Chairman Randy Blackwood, the committee has only met one time and has not begun contacting any of the performers that were discussed. He also said the committee first sees the arena as a premier basketball playing facility, but is looking at ways to enhance and go beyond the basketball experience.
Representing the middle initial of John Q. Hammons and the first year of the new JQH arena, the Q-1 committee has been placed in charge of suggesting entertainment large enough to match expectations of the new arena in its first year.
Randy Blackwood, chairman of the committee, said the first meeting went extremely well.
"It was a very enthusiastic meeting," Blackwood said. "I can already tell that there is a lot of interest and the committee members are genuinely excited to be a part of this."
The goal was to form a committee that covered different groups and different backgrounds from the community and university, Blackwood said. He also said they would soon be naming a student representative for the committee.
"The students are obviously a really important part of helping us put our finger on the pulse of what people are interested in," Blackwood said.
The committee already has its goals set high and has begun to list possible acts to be booked in the new JQH arena. The discussion at the first meeting included names such as The Eagles, Carlos Santana, Dave Matthews Band, Garth Brooks and Beyoncé.
"We are hoping that the newness of the arena and the large seating capacity will allow us to draw a new lineup to the Springfield market," Blackwood said.
Others in the community aren't as optimistic about the entertainment possibilities for JQH.
"I think it's absurd to think a band like The Eagles could play an 11,000 seat venue," said Tom Morris, president of FM Productions.
Morris also said that some of the acts could definitely be a possibility to bring to JQH but in his experience, some would not be feasible.
"I know there are a lot of people who believe in MSU intensely, but the question lies in how much money they are willing to put out," Morris said. "You have to be realistic when you are chasing something as big as this."
"It's definitely a possibility that the venue could do enough fundraising to make some of these acts a possibility" Morris added.
According to Chairman Randy Blackwood, the committee has only met one time and has not begun contacting any of the performers that were discussed. He also said the committee first sees the arena as a premier basketball playing facility, but is looking at ways to enhance and go beyond the basketball experience.
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