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Britt sees stars at Expo Amphitheater deal gives festival big summer venue By Dani Dodge CENTRAL POINT � Britt Festivals promoters have struck a deal with county officials to put on shows in the Expo�s proposed 5,800-seat amphitheater beginning next summer. Britt Festivals officials say, though, that they�ll continue to provide a solid lineup in their Jacksonville venue. "It�s going to give our audiences greater choices," said Ron McUne, Britt�s executive director. "There�s a lot of things we can�t do in Jacksonville because (the acts) are too spendy or because of the sound limitations. "(At the amphitheater) we�ll have just bigger, high-profile acts that will draw more people." The Jackson County Fairgrounds and Exposition Park kicked off its fund-raising effort for the outdoor amphitheater Thursday at a fairgrounds press conference and announced the agreement with Britt. The agreement gives the Britt Festivals exclusive rights to certain blocks of dates so it will have first shot at getting big acts into the Rogue Valley. Private promoters also may put on shows at the Expo. The amphitheater will provide a performing space for headline concerts, theater and dance companies. It will include a state-of-the-art sound and acoustics system, as well as views of Mount McLoughlin and Roxy Ann Peak. In addition to open seating on the grass, there will be assigned seating and private luxury boxes. Fair Board President Leigh Johnson said the facility will be built come "hell or high-water" by June 2001. "I want you to imagine ... a warm summer evening ... anticipating a performance to rival anything, anywhere," he said. "And what�s really heartwarming is it�s all happening right here at home." The Fair Board, though, needs to raise about $2.2 million to build its $2.85 million dream. It has $710,000 in the bank already from a state grant and donations. While Britt or private promoters will be putting together the shows, fair patrons also will benefit. The fair will control concessions, parking and souvenir sales. Fair manager Chris Borovansky estimated that the fair will earn $12,000 to $18,000 per show, although the number of shows remains unknown. County subsidies for the fairgrounds have dwindled, he said, and the amphitheater is a big step toward self-sufficiency. "We are in desperate need for a new revenue source to keep our heads above water," Borovansky said. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA