Va. Beach amphitheater gets new name: Farm Bureau Live

Posted to: Entertainment Music News Virginia Beach
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By Rashod Ollison
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 23, 2011

VIRGINIA BEACH

The Virginia Beach Amphitheater has a new name - at least for the next three years.

Representatives from Live Nation Entertainment and Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance announced a three-year partnership Tuesday that gives Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance the naming rights to the former Virginia Beach Amphitheater. Effective Tuesday, the venue is now called Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach.

"I think it's going to be a successful partnership," Beach Mayor Will Sessoms said during the announcement at the amphitheater. "Farm Bureau is a first-class organization, and the venue is a first-class venue. Our future is very, very bright."

Venue representatives unveiled the new logo for Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach: a flaming red guitar with a big blue guitar pick. They also announced SaveOurFood.org as the sponsor for the Country Megaticket series, which kicks off June 3 with Brad Paisley. Other country acts to perform include Rascal Flatts (June 19), Tim McGraw (July 9), Toby Keith (July 23), Kenny Chesney (Aug. 4) and Jason Aldean (Sept. 11).

Tickets to the six-show package are only available online through megaticket.com. Different packages, ranging from $125 to $725, will be available for a limited time. Online orders will be accepted starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. The "megaticket" includes tickets to all six shows.

Verizon Wireless was the concert venue's last corporate sponsor. The partnership ended in 2007. GTE, which later became part of Verizon Communications, sponsored Virginia Beach Amphitheater when it opened in 1996.

In its arrangement with Live Nation, which operates the venue, the city gets 5 percent of all sponsorships. The city spent $10.75 million to help construct the $17.75 million venue and has since recouped its investment, Sessoms said.

The new partnership with the concert venue will "elevate awareness" of Virginia Farm Bureau, said Matt Smith, the company's marketing director.

Rashod Ollison, (757) 446-2732, rashod.ollison@pilotonline.com

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I am so laughing over this whole madness

Submitted by 2cents on Thu, 02/24/2011 at 5:31 pm.

Bring Back HeeHaw!
Bring Back HeeHaw!

The ghost of Granpa to cook up success at the ole pig farm!

the pilot should have little laugh tracks or snorts of derision their readers can insert -- little emote-a-sounds

hmmm

Submitted by 2cents on Thu, 02/24/2011 at 5:21 pm.

one can wear their dungarees while attending a hoedown

I don't like this either but...

Submitted by PapaBooey on Thu, 02/24/2011 at 10:38 am.

I don't like corporate sponsorship either, here or anywhere. It's a painful reality where money talks and substance has gone by the wayside. Gone are the days of venues being named after some portion of local history or specific feature of that area or the venue has a special name that seemingly bronzes the history and legendary status of the venue. A few examples of this with some names having been changed to a company include:

Three Rivers Stadium
Mile High Stadium
House of Blues
Charlie's
The Fillmore
708
The Westgate
Palisades

And although some of next local businesses simply no longer exist, the names still disappeared and attendees like me can only hold to our memories. R.I.P. Duck-Inn, Beach house, Abyss, Boathouse