County Commissioners and Administration “Load Out” Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Ahead of Grand Renovation

• 27 April 2024
• Category: SJC News District 1 District 2 District 4
• Tags: 2024

From SJC Cultural Events, Inc.

With music instruments in hand and road cases ready to roll out, St. Johns County Commissioner and Chair Sarah Arnold, Vice Chair Roy Alaimo, and Commissioners Krista Keating-Joseph and Christian Whitehurst, alongside St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews began the ceremonial load out of Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. The multimillion-dollar renovations are scheduled to commence on May 1.

Preparing Ponte Vedra Concert Hall for its New Era is no small task. The enhancements include the addition of a second-floor balcony, outdoor terraces on both floors, and stadium-style seating on the first floor to allow for more flexible seating and standing configurations. Further improvements feature state-of-the-art audio and lighting systems. A complete load out is required to make way for contractor DiMare Construction to set the stage for a transformative cultural experience.

“This is going to be a quality-of-life enhancement for our community, We’re going to get more acts, bigger names and all different types of music,” stated St. Johns County Commissioner Joseph.

Since its opening night on February 13, 2011, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall has welcomed 484 unique acts, over 1,000 performances, and more than 400,000 visitors. Music enthusiasts from nearly every state have traveled to see their favorites artists in one of the most acoustically stunning, intimate venues in the Southeast. Over its 13-year history, the venue’s economic contribution to St. Johns County exceeds $53 million.

“This is part of the consumer experience economy that brings people in from around the country, and sometimes around the world,” said Commissioner Whitehurst. “These guests enjoy our hotels, restaurants, activities, history, and they contribute to our local business economy. This expansion is good for our culture, good for St. Johns County residents, good for business and good for our economy.”

“Twenty-six percent of people who attend shows here stay overnight and 87% of those stay more than one night in St. Johns County where they shop here, eat here, and play here,” added Commissioner Arnold. “The economic impact this concert hall has had and will continue to have cannot be overstated.

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall has welcomed Grammy award-winning icons of music as well as burgeoning stars including David Crosby, Lucinda Williams, Art Garfunkel, Pete Davidson, Marty Stuart, Indigo Girls, Lindsey Buckingham, Local Natives, Jenny Lewis, Los Lobos, Dr. John, Wynona Judd, Richard Marx, Blues Traveler, The Wailers, Mavis Staples, KT Tunstall, Portugal. The Man, Dimitri Martin, The Weight, Yonder Mountain String Band, and more. It has also served as a space to highlight local and regional artists, local theatre, and choral groups like APEX Theatre Studio, the UNF Choir and Florida Chamber Music Project.

“We continue to make quality of life a priority here in St. Johns County,” explained Commissioner Alaimo. “St. Johns County is a ticket to fun and memories of performances at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall will live on in people’s minds forever.”

Although Commissioner Henry Dean was in Tallahassee, he delivered his remarks via video, “I have always felt that old adage that music unites the world. It’s the one unifier that crosses boundaries, crosses almost every block you can put up. And I think it’s so fabulous that we can have such a venue here in the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall that we can so enjoy.”

Originally a Baptist church built in the 1980s, St. Johns County purchased the property in 2006. The building underwent a transformation to become a concert hall in 2009 and has since received several upgrades. These enhancements, supported by The Friends of Ponte Vedra Concert Hall and St. Johns County, culminated in the approval of a $5.4 million funding boost by the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners on June 21, 2022. While the building remains a St. Johns County property, it is operated by SJC Cultural Events, Inc. through a public-private partnership established in September 2023.

“Public-private partnership is really about connection and trust,” said St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews. “For us to be together today, this is a demonstration of the public-private partnership that provides connection to creativity, innovation, and cultural exchange. Now with SJCCE we have that connection to resources, to inclusion and connection to the entire community.”

“This project has been envisioned for 13 years and we are delighted to see the dream for our beloved Concert Hall become a reality,” said Jerry Wilson, President of Friends of Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. “I deeply appreciate the dedication of our all-volunteer Board of Directors, Advisory Council, PVCH volunteers, and members of the Friends of Ponte Vedra Concert Hall who have seen the true power of live music. I’d also like to acknowledge the support of our five County Commissioners, County Administration, and SJCCE management as we collectively embark on this journey to elevate the cultural experience in St. Johns County.”

“For quite some time, we’ve recognized the vast potential of Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, explains Gabriel Pellicer, CEO & President of SJC Cultural Events, Inc. “Collectively, we’ve been committed to enhancing every aspect of our operation, aiming for an unparalleled experience for both artists and patrons. We are appreciative to everyone who has contributed to this journey over the years. This achievement is a win for the entire St. Johns County community.”

With the Concert Hall’s load out, renovations are set to begin on May 1. Upon completion, the venue will provide an unrivaled concert experience for both music enthusiasts and performers. The prospect of hosting more headliners in this intimate space is expected to increase tenfold. The public is invited to track the renovation’s progress by visiting https://www.pvconcerthall.com/news.