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On The Beat: Why do tours from ballet to arena concerts start in Lincoln?

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Eric Church - 1.13.17

Eric Church opens his Holdin’ My Own tour at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2017. Church will return to Lincoln in January to open the 2022 leg of his next tour.

Journal Star file photo

L. Kent Wolgamott

On July 1, American Ballet Theatre will open its “Dance Across America” outdoor tour in Pioneers Park. On Jan. 7, country star Eric Church will start the 2022 leg of his “Gather Again” tour at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Those are just the latest national tours that will kick off in Lincoln, with more likely to be added to that list over the next year as the concert industry comes back to post-pandemic life.

So why do artists, from the Zac Brown Band to electronic music’s Odesza to the ballet, start tours here?

Arena and Lied Center for Performing Arts officials say it starts with the audiences.

More than 3,000 free tickets for the ballet have been snapped up in less than a week.

Church’s show went on sale Tuesday. He holds the arena attendance record of 15,823 people. He won’t hit that number next year because of the stage setup. But the show is a guaranteed sellout.

“That is part of what makes the artists want to come,” said Matthew Boring, Lied’s associate director of marketing and patron development. “They know they’re going to have a really excited, receptive crowd.

“I’ve seen ABT in New York. It was a sold-out show and all of that. But there was nothing like the energy and the reception that we had here in 2018. It was like a rock concert for ballet here.”

Indestructible Light - B

American Ballet Theatre dancers Betsy McBride and Jacob Clerico perfomr in a dress rehearsal. ABT will open its “Dance Across America” outdoor tour at Pioneers Park July 1.

L. Kent Wolgamott

The second plus for Lincoln is its downtown, where the artists and crew will stay for a few days to a week or longer rehearsing for the tour.

“For the artists, it’s, ‘I’ll come to Lincoln, stay downtown in nice hotels, be within walking distance of the Lied Center or the arena and have dozens of good places to eat and go at night,’” Boring said. “That’s something that you don’t find everywhere, and it makes Lincoln appealing.”

Members of the Zac Brown Band, which has opened two tours at the arena, provide ample evidence of that. Crew members spent about a week living in downtown hotels on both occasions, with band members arriving three or four days before the show.

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The proximity to downtown’s live music venues and bars gave band members a few days of “living the college life,” in the words of multi-instrumentalist Clay Cook, while they and their crew found favorite spots to hang out and eat. For drummer Chris Fryar, that spot is Hurts Donuts, which he calls “doughnut Disneyland.”

All of that is communicated back to artist management and tour bookers.

“American Ballet Theatre shared with its board of directors when they had their international tour that of all the places they went, in 2018 at Lincoln, Nebraska, was their favorite,” Lied executive director Bill Stephan said.

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The final factors that bring tour openings to Lincoln are the arena and the Lied Center themselves. While the arena is now 8 years old and Lied is in its 31st season, the buildings remain among the best physical venues of their sizes in the country.

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That is particularly appealing for Church and his production team, who have opened two previous tours in Lincoln, said general manager Tom Lorenz.

“They love the building,” he said. “They love the audiences here.”

Specifically, the arena has easy, multi-truck access to load in the stages, lighting, sound and other production equipment needed for the shows, and a plethora of dressing rooms and backstage work spaces.

The grid of steel beams that covers most of the arena high above the floor makes for ideal rigging, the hanging of the lighting, sound and production equipment. And Lorenz said the local chapter of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is knowledgeable, experienced in the building and easy for the tours to work with.

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As for the Lied Center, it will provide three rehearsal spaces — the main stage, Kimball Hall and the Johnny Carson Theatre — for the 20 dancers who will spend three weeks in Lincoln getting ready for the ballet tour.

The last plus for Lincoln, Lorenz said, is it doesn’t cost a small fortune to rent the buildings and put the artists and crew up in downtown hotels as it would in, say, Chicago or New York.

All of that combines to make Lincoln a place where artists, their management and production team want to start tours.

“I’d like to open all our tours there,” Fryar said before the Zac Brown Band’s Feb. 29, 2020, show. “We didn’t start this tour there. But I’m pretty sure we’ll be back to start another one there. We really like Lincoln.”

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Jay Z performs at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

The crowd dances and sings along during a Bon Jovi concert at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Concerts are expected to return in late spring 2021. 

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Elton John performs at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Eight-year-old Jack Moore is front and center with his father Craig Moore and Aunt, Becki Moore, to watch Pearl Jam perform on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

New Kids On The Block perform The Way on Saturday, June 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena, during The Mixtape Tour.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Singer Michael Bublé performs at the first concert to be hosted at the new Pinnancle Bank Arena on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

With the roar of six-string power chords and keyboard runs, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra hits the stage amidst a spectacle of luminance and verve on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, at the Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Mark McKinney (left) and Todd Swackhamer of Window Tinting Company install a panel of the 27×24 foot mural advertising the July 14th concert of Paul McCartney on Friday, April 25, 2014, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tickets for the concert go on general sale on Monday, April 28.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Cher performs on Friday, May 30, 2014, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

KISS guitarists Tommy Thayer (left) and Paul Stanley perform Deuce” on Friday, July 22, 2016, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Pop icon Pink performs “Beautiful Trauma” during a sold-out concert on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Metallica’s guitarist Kirk Hammett grinds out the leads as he performs with the band on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, at the Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt performs in concert on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Entertainer Michael Bublé performs with his band on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Caroline Jones (left) performs before a sold out audience on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Kenny Chesney performs for a sold out audience on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

As concert goers leave the first Garth Brooks concert held Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, at Pinnacle Bank Arena lines begin to form for the second concert of the evening.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Katy Perry performs on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Billy Joel greets his fans from his piano on Friday, March 24, 2017, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Pinnacle Bank Arena concerts brings bands from around the country and world to perform for the local fans.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Jay Z performs at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

The crowd dances and sings along during a Bon Jovi concert at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Concerts are expected to return in late spring 2021. 

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Elton John performs at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Eight-year-old Jack Moore is front and center with his father Craig Moore and Aunt, Becki Moore, to watch Pearl Jam perform on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

New Kids On The Block perform The Way on Saturday, June 8, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena, during The Mixtape Tour.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Singer Michael Bublé performs at the first concert to be hosted at the new Pinnancle Bank Arena on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

With the roar of six-string power chords and keyboard runs, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra hits the stage amidst a spectacle of luminance and verve on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, at the Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Mark McKinney (left) and Todd Swackhamer of Window Tinting Company install a panel of the 27×24 foot mural advertising the July 14th concert of Paul McCartney on Friday, April 25, 2014, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tickets for the concert go on general sale on Monday, April 28.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Cher performs on Friday, May 30, 2014, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

KISS guitarists Tommy Thayer (left) and Paul Stanley perform Deuce” on Friday, July 22, 2016, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Pop icon Pink performs “Beautiful Trauma” during a sold-out concert on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Metallica’s guitarist Kirk Hammett grinds out the leads as he performs with the band on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, at the Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt performs in concert on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Entertainer Michael Bublé performs with his band on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Caroline Jones (left) performs before a sold out audience on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Kenny Chesney performs for a sold out audience on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

As concert goers leave the first Garth Brooks concert held Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, at Pinnacle Bank Arena lines begin to form for the second concert of the evening.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Katy Perry performs on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Photos: Pinnacle Bank Arena Concerts

Billy Joel greets his fans from his piano on Friday, March 24, 2017, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com. On Twitter @KentWolgamott  

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