Solicitations to manage two Springfield, Massachusetts, performance venues are expected to go out later this month.
The Springfield Performing Arts Development Corporation announced last week it would stop operating CityStage and Symphony Hall at the end of this year.
The Springfield City Council has approved offering a longer-term contract for the successful bidder to manage Symphony Hall that could potentially turn into a 15-year deal.
Orlando Ramos is Council President.
“So if there's renovations, any sort of improvements that they want to make, they have the ability to make that, and have confidence that they're going to get a return on their investment because of their long-term contract,” Ramos said.
Tom Moore is director of the Springfield Parking Authority, which owns the CityStage theater. He said they're looking for any and all options.
“It makes sense to just cast a very wide net to see what interest there might be for other uses, in addition to the kind of historical use of the place,” Moore said.
MGM Springfield might be interested. The company, which manages the MassMutual Center, said it's continuing conversations with city leaders about supporting future performances at both CityStage and Symphony Hall.
