VISION 2024 'Accomplished a lot': Entertainment organizations providing diverse offerings, economic boost

Feb. 23—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Throughout the year, leaders in regional entertainment say, they are offering an array of first-rate shows that will thrill patrons while strengthening the economy.

Chad Mearns, marketing and box office manager at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial in downtown Johnstown, said 2023 was a busy and successful year for the arena.

"We accomplished a lot in terms of adding to the diversity of shows and the events that we had," he said. "We really expanded the visibility of the arena across a regional landscape stretching from Ohio to Virginia to Maryland to New York and eastern Pennsylvania."

The arena saw sellouts for the Rockzilla Tour, featuring Falling In Reverse and Papa Roach; Whiskey Myers; MercyMe; Foreigner; REO Speedwagon; the Rock Resurrection Tour with Skillet and Theory of a Deadman; and the Kiss of Death Tour with In This Moment and Ice Nine Kills.

Additional notable acts included Dropkick Murphys, Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd tribute band Brit Floyd, and the Summer Jam featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti.

"One of the biggest shows we've had in recent memory was the Ja Rule and Ashanti show, just in terms of the sheer volume of people we were able to have in the building, so it was a big accomplishment for us to have a show like that," Mearns said. "We had a lot of different genres represented and had some really great shows for each of those genres, with country to family shows to classic rock to modern heavy metal."

The entertainment schedule for the first half of 2024 includes sold-out Disney on Ice shows that were held Feb. 8 through 11; a Harlem Globetrotters event that was held Thursday; Scotty McCreery on March 14; Breaking Benjamin on March 24; Brit Floyd on April 1; Brantley Gilbert on April 19; and the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra performing the music of The Police on May 18.

"This market has a strong appetite for entertainment, and there are people who are interested in seeing top-quality entertainment coming to the region and we're able to support that," Mearns said. "It also shows the city itself is a destination that people are interested in traveling to to have that kind of entertainment experience."

As far as having an economic impact, Mearns said the arena is part of something that can be great for the city.

"We are aware of our ability to help with the extended economic impact for restaurants, businesses, gas stations and hotels," Mearns said. "We're in a position to repeatedly bring in thousands of people for these events, and not just for concerts, but other events and youth sports, so there's a pretty significant impact to the city that we're glad we have a part in."

Mearns said marketing efforts also help to attract people to the arena and the city.

"Providing people with a strong experience when they come in is what will yield future opportunities to bring them back," Mearns said. "We've heard from people that they happened to see an ad for a show or it came across their social media feed and they gave us a chance and really enjoyed the experience. Now they're actively seeking out what we have next to offer."

Arcadia Theater: 'Here at every show'

The 2023 season at Arcadia Theater in Windber saw sold-out shows for almost every performance.

"We did very well and had some of the old standard shows that we do and added a lot of new shows that have never been here before," said Jerry Ledney, executive director of the theater. "People continue to support us and are here at every show. There are some people that it doesn't matter what the show is, they'll come because they love the theater."

He said the 2024 season offers a strong schedule of shows that will keep patrons entertained through the end of the year.

"People are very happy with the 2024 schedule, and the feedback is they are impressed with what we're offering and can't wait for it to start," Ledney said. "For a community as small as Windber to be able to have a theater like this astounds me. There's not many small communities that can have a theater and produce shows like we do."

He said on show nights, the restaurants in Windber are crowded before and after performances, helping to boost the economy.

"We're hearing this from restaurant owners, so we know the theater is giving back to the community," Ledney said. "It trickles down to a lot of the businesses and helps the economics of the area."

He said shows attract not only local residents, but also people from neighboring counties and states.

"We're not just a local theater; we're a regional theater," Ledney said. "These people are coming to Windber and spending money while they're here."

Nestled along the Potomac River in the scenic Appalachian Mountains, DelFest is held over Memorial Day weekend at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland.

"It's misunderstood by a lot of people who think it's only a traditional bluegrass festival, but it's really Americana and jam sessions, and it's very family-friendly," said Barb Buehl, community liaison for DelFest.

"There's a range of music, from gospel to a little bit of jazz to country rock to new bluegrass and traditional bluegrass, so there's really something for everybody's tastes."

She said the talent on the festival's three stages features some of the biggest names in the bluegrass and Americana genres, as well as up-and-coming acts.

"It attracts as large a talent as we can hold," Buehl said. "There's some talent that started there who are now doing stadiums."

This year, 32 acts will perform, including The Del McCoury Band, The Travelin' McCourys, Greensky Bluegrass, Old Crow Medicine Show, Sierra Ferrell, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sam Grisman Project, Sister Sadie, Mr. Sun, Big Richard, Dré Anders, East Nash Grass, The Dirty Grass Players, Armchair Boogie and Joe Craven MC.

Buehl said the festival sees 32,000 to 36,000 people over the four-day event.

"People are coming from at least 38 states and it's surprising the number of people we get from overseas," she said. "We see people from West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, so it's attracting large crowds."

Buehl said the festival gives a substantial economic boost to the Cumberland region.

"Most of the hotels are already filled, and some of the restaurants will tell you it's one of their biggest weekends of year," she said. "The entertainment tax that we pay per ticket adds a lot to Allegany County, and that is used for improvements to the fairgrounds, which benefits all activities there.

"Local vendors also are used as much as possible, and that adds a lot to the economy."

She said DelFest is the largest event in the county in terms of the number of people it attracts.

"We started out slow and ran into roadblocks along the way with people who weren't sure what the festival was or who it would bring to the area, but as it's grown, we've won over the hearts of the majority of folks here," Buehl said. "Now people look forward to it every year. It's the most uplifting festival and you come away from there smiling."