Country music artist Walker Hayes gets up close with his legions of fans at Saturday’s sold-out concert at the Covelli Centre. Submitted photo/ Flashblind Photography

YOUNGSTOWN — It’s the two words that every entertainment venue wants flashing on its marquee: sold out.

That’s becoming a regular occurrence in the last month at the Covelli Centre.

Country singer Walker Hayes played to a sold-out crowd Saturday with even the limited-view seats at the back corners of the stage occupied.

The week before, comedian Bert Kreischer filled the arena. In late September, Swedish theatrical rock group Ghost was a few empty rows from doing the same. The venue already is looking at its first sellout of 2023. Cody Johnson and Randy Houser won’t play the Covelii Centre until March 4, but only single seats and resale tickets remain.

It’s a stark contrast following 18 months in 2020-21 when the venue was shut down because of state mandates and reduced capacity regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic

“We’re certainly booking acts that people want to come and see and support,” said Jordan Ryan, executive director of the Covelli Centre. “It’s also clear to us that people are increasingly willing to get out and are less afraid to be in a crowd. Our recent successes are a reflection of that … At this point, I think the economy is a bigger concern than COVID is with inflation, gas prices, grocery prices. There’s less income to spend on entertainment.”

Hayes sold VIP tickets that included meet-and-greets, something most acts discontinued during the pandemic. Some still are resisting that kind of interaction, but more and more artists, especially younger country performers, have resumed it, Ryan said. Luke Bryan did meet and greets this summer when he headlined Y Live at Wean Park.

COUNTRY AND COMEDY

Country music has been one of the most popular genres at the venue, at least since JAC Management took over operations of the city-owned building. The ability to sell tickets, both with established country stars such as Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood as well as newer artists like Hayes and Johnson, makes it easier to lure other country tours.

“We’re all about telling success stories,” Ryan said. “We just got back from a trip in Nashville, trying to book some shows with some of the largest agencies in the world, and it’s all about telling those success stories. When promoters put their money on the line and see a return on it, they’re more likely to come back. When agents put their neck on the line by sending a (top) client of theirs to Youngstown, Ohio, they want to make sure they’re playing in front of a good crowd. When that happens, they’re more likely to send more people our way. Tickets sell tickets, and success sells success.”

While country continues to be a big draw at the arena, comedy is becoming increasingly important.

“Absolutely. We don’t book country music artists because we like country music. We book it because it sells tickets,” Ryan said. “The market has shown time and time again it supports country acts. The market is now showing us people are ready and willing to spend entertainment dollars on comedians.”

In addition to Kreischer, Katt Williams packed the venue earlier this year. Tickets went on sale Friday for comedian Nate Bargatze, who is scheduled April 2, 2023, and Ryan said Thursday the presale numbers indicated another big crowd.

NETFLIX

He credited Netflix for the surge in comedians playing venues that size, something that was a rarity a decade ago.

“What Netflix has done is really propel some of those guys to be at the next level, to play a place the size of the Covelli Centre,” Ryan said. “I really think that is what has shifted this comedian market, and it’s not just here. It’s happening across the country.”

In the past, JAC Live and JAC Management President Eric Ryan has talked about being cautious in not bringing too many events to the arena too closely together because of the size of the market and the local economy.

Three near / total sellouts in less than month doesn’t have him rethinking that strategy.

“The key is to stay in that sweet spot, and as long as the shows are performing well, we’re in good shape,” Eric Ryan said. “The arena has taken longer to recover from COVID, and we’re finally seeing shows confirming and performing well.”

While there is some overlap, those three shows appealed to different audiences.

Shows that appeal to an older demographic still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, but Jordan Ryan said two November shows by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which has an older audience, are selling well.

“For the most part, we feel pretty confident about all the genres,” Jordan Ryan said. “With the recent sellouts, people are putting COVID behind them and enjoying live entertainment again.

agray@tribtoday.com