New York Firm Plans Amphitheater Deal

The company that recently bought San Francisco-based Bill Graham Presents plans--with the county’s blessing--to purchase the rights to a 16,000-seat amphitheater scheduled for development at Camarillo Regional Park.

The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved transfer of the amphitheater assignment from Camarillo Amphitheater Managing Partners, affiliated with Avalon Productions, to New York-based SFX Broadcasting Inc.

SFX intends to acquire both Avalon Productions and CAMP on Monday--though the amphitheater project is still tied up in litigation.

Claiming state law and Ventura County planning policies were violated, two environmental groups have sued the county in an attempt to overturn plans to develop the amphitheater and 18-hole golf course on the park’s 320 acres of wetlands and biological habitats. With a hearing pending in June, a construction date has not been set.

SFX representatives were not available for comment.

County officials say the representatives are aware of the litigation but are still moving forward with what has been estimated at a minimum $20-million purchase for Avalon and CAMP. Officials are uncertain how much SFX has paid for the amphitheater portion of the deal.

“SFX has recently sold over $2 billion worth of radio stations, mostly on the East Coast, and are redirecting their corporate effort into acquiring live performance venues and companies,” said Blake Boyle, county parks manager.

Indeed, the company’s recent $500-million buying spree of promotion companies, including Bill Graham Presents, have the live-entertainment industry buzzing about what may happen next.