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YOUNGSTOWN -- The city-owned Covelli Centre, Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and Wean Park entertainment complex had its fourth-worst financial second quarter ever, losing $111,549 during the three-month period.
"It's always been a mixed bag for the second quarter; it's tough," said Eric Ryan, president of JAC Management Group, which operates the Covelli Centre, Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and Wean Park for the city. "Opening the amphitheater and the expenses coming out of winter with the park and getting ready for the outdoor season takes a lot of man hours."
In the 21 total second quarters since the Covelli Centre opened in October 2005, 12 had operating losses and nine showed surpluses. The amphitheater and park opened in 2019.
This year's loss during the second quarter, which runs from April to June, was slightly less than the $125,025 deficit in 2025. But it was a long way off from the $125,053 surplus during the second quarter of 2024.
Besides last year, the only second quarters to lose more revenue were 2007 with a $205,215 loss and 2020 with a $137,931 loss. During that second quarter in 2020, the facilities were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The facilities were projected to lose $227,223 during this second quarter.
ADMISSION TAX
The facilities generated $42,919 for the city from a 5.5% admission tax on tickets during this year's second quarter, said city Finance Director Kyle Miasek. Only ticketed events at Covelli, the amphitheater and Wean Park are subject to the city's admission tax with shows at other venues in Youngstown not paying it.
The admission tax has provided $103,835 through the first six months of the year to the city.
The city relies on the Y-Live concerts to generate the largest amounts of admission tax, at least $100,000, when they are staged at Wean Park. However, the two concerts, headlined by Jason Aldean on July 10 and Eric Church on July 11, were at Youngstown State University's Stambaugh Stadium, and admission taxes weren't charged on tickets to those shows.
There was little activity at the city-owned facilities in the second quarter with a concert by Third Day doing well. The only other national touring events at the Covelli Centre during the second quarter were the Harlem Globetrotters and an All Elite Wrestling show that aired on national television.
There were also a community development day, the Hope Conference, the Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Foundation Scholarship Dinner, the Men's Rally in the Valley, Pilates in the Park, the Juneteenth Celebration, Simply Slavic and the summer movie series as well as Yo-Nights Business Takeover events that feature local musicians and are designed to help downtown businesses.
Through the first six months of the year, the center had a $188,890 operating surplus.
That's thanks to starting the year off strong with its fourth-best first quarter in history, rebounding from a $484,728 loss for all of 2025.
JAC has announced shows recently for the Covelli Centre, including a Nov. 5 Sugarland concert and an Oct. 29 World Wrestling Entertainment show. Other concerts at the center include Nelly on Sept. 13, Jon Pardi on Sept. 25 and Brantley Gilbert on Oct. 19.
The Aug. 9 Joe Bonamassa and Gov't Mule concert at the amphitheater did well, Ryan said.
Two other national acts are coming to the amphitheater: Niko Moon on Sept. 11 and Charley Crockett on Sept. 19.
The amphitheater usually has five to seven national shows each year, but only three are booked for this year.
"It was definitely a slower year at the amp with 'blue dot fever' impacting markets of our size," Ryan said. "But we're definitely making it. We're definitely staying on track for the year."
Blue dot fever is a term describing musicians canceling or postponing concerts at larger venues because of a lack of ticket sales -- or the blue dots on Ticketmaster charts that show unsold seats.
The Youngstown market has struggled recently to attract musicians who have typically toured in this area, but are instead going to larger outdoor venues in the Cleveland and Pittsburgh markets with mixed results.
Ryan said the facilities will do better in the third quarter than they did last year, when they lost $60,366.
Ryan said he is optimistic about the fourth quarter with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra performing as well as several Disney on Ice shows in addition to the already announced events.
"It looks like we'll be back up on our feet, which is great," Ryan said. "The second and third quarters have always been difficult for us. But we expect a good fourth quarter."