Deal May End Rock at Pacific Amphitheatre

Loud rock ‘n’ roll and accompanying traffic jams at Pacific Amphitheatre that have enraged its neighbors may be history.

The Orange County Fair Board announced a $12.5-million deal Thursday to buy the 18,700-seat outdoor amphitheater and its long-term lease from promotions giant Nederlander Inc., which built the venue for $11 million in 1983 and held a 40-year lease on the facility’s operations that was to end in 2023.

As part of the deal, the Pacific would enforce stricter noise regulations, meaning the end of appearances by such ear-splitting acts as Guns N’ Roses and Van Halen when the current concert season ends.

About 15 shows have already been booked for this season, including shows by the Allman Brothers Band and Van Halen. They will not be subject to the new noise restrictions, but any additional concerts booked this season will have to comply.

Nederlander officials, however, said the entire agreement hinges on the dismissal of a string of lawsuits filed by area residents, the city of Costa Mesa and the fair, which have fought for years to rid the area of the noise and traffic that accompany most concerts. A representative of Concerned Citizens of Costa Mesa said that the group does not plan to back off.

The change in operators could end the fierce rivalry between Pacific and neighbor Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre for top entertainment acts in Orange County. Nederlander, however, will remain a player in Orange County. It is expected that the promoter will now focus much of its attention on bookings at the $103-million Anaheim Arena, where it is a partner with Ogden Entertainment Services and the city of Anaheim. The 19,000-seat arena is expected to open this summer.