Chris Fritz has been producing concerts in Kansas City for more than 50 years, so when he says a storm is approaching the industry locally, you listen to him.
The catalyst of the looming tempest is the Morton Amphitheater, which will open this summer in Riverside with 30 or more concerts already on the schedule. It will compete directly with Azura Amphitheater, which Fritz operates, and to a lesser extent with Starlight. All three are outdoor venues that operate from late spring through early fall.
“Everybody’s going to have to take a different look at how they’re doing their business,” Fritz said. “We’re planning on hopefully surviving the storm.”
Fritz has operated the Bonner Springs amphitheater originally known as Sandstone since 1990 through his New West Presentations. He works mostly with Mammoth, a local independent promoter…