Bonnaroo eyes permanent home on Manchester farm
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Bonnaroo officials declined to comment, but farm owner Sam McAllister said the sale could be concluded next week.
?Well, there?s a few little things that have got to take place before it happens,? McAllister said Wednesday.
County zoning administrator Ronnie Branch said Bonnaroo official Ashley Capps told the Board of Zoning Appeals last month that a land purchase was imminent.
Capps asked the board for a type of zoning permit that would streamline the festival’s planning process. The permit was approved contingent on the sale of the land, Branch said. The deal appears to be on track to be closed in the middle of January, he said.
Capps told the board Bonnaroo wants to improve water lines and roads at the site and said the festival might want to stage other, smaller musical events at the farm.
?Well, they can use it when they want to use it, but they can only get so many mass-gathering permits in a year, so I?d say they’d be limited to three or four events? besides Bonnaroo, Branch said.
According to Billboard.com, the 2006 Bonnaroo took in $15 million in revenue and sold out its 80,000 tickets. An economic analysis from MTSU of the 2005 festival showed attendees spent $8.6 million in the county that year.
?To me it?s like a new industry coming to town. That?s the way I look at it. They generate a lot of cash flow and contribute to the county and the community,? Coffee County Mayor David Pennington said of Bonnaroo?s plans.
The next Bonnaroo is set for June 14-17. The festival Web site says its ?early bird? discounted tickets have sold out. Regular tickets will go on sale when the artist lineup is announced.