Gentlemen of the Road Stopover contract signed

Historic City News in St Augustine has received the signed agreement between the City and Tennessee concert promoter, AC Entertainment, Inc., to rent Francis Field, “Event Premises”, and adjacent property, “Supplemental Premises”, for the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover beginning September 13, and concluding September 14, 2013.

Twenty-one pages provide for collection of rent at a rate of $300 daily, for a total income to the City, from the promoter, of $2,700 — which covers the ramp-up and break-down days before and after the concert event. The term of the agreement shall commence on September 8, 2013 at 12:01 a.m. and shall expire on September 16, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.

The $1 previously reported for each of the 25,000 tickets sold will not go to the City — it will be paid to a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization “selected at the discretion of the City” and “approved by members of Mumford and Sons and their management”.

Based on the City’s initial estimate of $44,318, the concert promoter has ten-business-days after the event’s conclusion, to reimburse the City for the cost of all city services provided within the perimeters of the Event Premises and the Supplemental Premises; including, but not limited to, services provided by the city, as applicable, for police, fire, emergency services, solid waste tipping fees, all electrical service and water and sewer utility service and post-event site restoration.

Although not addressed in this agreement, the City will sell wristbands, reportedly for $15 each, which will help recover the cost of operating a public transit system of air-conditioned buses to support satellite parking at the Northeast Florida Regional Airport and shuttle service for concertgoers staying on Anastasia Island and the beaches. The City also received approval from the St Johns County Commission to be reimbursed up to $129,485 from Arts, Culture and Heritage bed tax funds to cover the cost of renting 43 of the 58 motor coaches needed for the event.

One of the concerns expressed in recent weeks, after learning of a cancellation on this tour due to a medical condition of one of Mumford and Sons members, has been the effect on the City if the concert cancels. Unforeseen events, such as inclement weather, acts of God, or any force majeure, are addressed in the agreement.

Specifically, “The parties expressly acknowledge and agree that September occurs in the midst of the Atlantic hurricane season and that a likelihood of tropical or severe non-tropical weather may occur on the dates of the event.” The agreement calls for AC Entertainment to provide copies of policies of insurance providing event cancellation insurance to address financial losses caused by severe weather. This coverage is in addition to general commercial liability insurance required from the promoter.