Amphitheater Plan Considered

The world’s largest concert promoter is in preliminary talks to build a 5,000-seat amphitheater at the Ventura County fairgrounds--a project that, if approved, would oust the speedway racing that has been there for 23 years.

New York-based SFX Entertainment--which scrapped a controversial plan last year to build a 16,000-seat concert venue at Camarillo Regional Park--is looking at the fairgrounds arena after being referred by Ventura Mayor Sandy Smith, fair officials said.

Roger Gibbs, Seaside Park executive director, stressed that the discussions are only preliminary and that the fair board that oversees operations of the fairgrounds must consider any proposal it receives.

“If an opportunity is out there, we can’t arbitrarily say, ‘No,’ so we need to meet with people,” Gibbs said. “We have to ask first, ‘Is it good for Seaside Park?’ and secondly, ‘Is it good for the city and the county of Ventura?’ ”

SFX officials could not be reached for comment.

The company became a giant in the concert promotion industry during the last three years after going on a $2-billion buying spree, scooping up such companies as San Francisco-based Bill Graham Presents and Los Angeles’ Avalon Attractions. SFX now owns or operates 120 venues in 31 of the top 50 markets in the country.

Gibbs said the company’s idea is to build an “elaborate spired tent structure” in the existing grandstand and arena area, which sits on three to five acres in the northwest portion of the 62-acre fairgrounds.