THUNDER BAY – The chief executive officer of the world’s largest live music brand says a new entertainment facility is “desperately needed” in the city.
Michael Rapino, who is the CEO of Live Nation Entertainment, was asked Saturday morning before receiving a honourary doctorate from Lakehead University about the impact a new venue could have for Thunder Bay.
“It’s desperately needed here. It’s time to get something new in town,” he said.
“If you build it they will come. An artist is always about performing where they can sell the most amount of tickets and having some level of a newer, state of the art venue.”
Live Nation manages tours for some of the world’s most popular performers including U2, Taylor Swift and One Direction.
Rapino said the music industry has shifted with artists receiving an increasing amount of their revenue through live performances rather than the sale of their music.
The city’s geography is a benefit and could provide incentive for acts to add another date in the middle of travel.
“It would be nice to be able to tell those next sized artists there’s a nice venue in Thunder Bay,” he said. “It’s a great natural route from Winnipeg through Toronto so I think you open a whole bunch of opportunities for that next level of artist.”
A rumour swirled earlier this spring a high-profile act was planning to make a surprise visit to the city.
Rapino, who is close to many of the industry’s biggest names, did not volunteer any artists but, when asked about talk he was trying to bring Prince to the city, said he tried to have the iconic singer’s Hit and Run Tour make a stop.
He’s going to do his part to bring Purple Rain to Thunder Bay.
“He has promised he will stop by my hometown,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to bring that one day.”
