The future of the Redding Civic Auditorium is in the air after an announcement by Advance Redding that they’re no longer going to manage the facility. Fourteen years ago the City of Redding needed a private partner to step up and take over managing the auditorium because the city was losing a lot of money on it. Bethel Church needed a place to teach their School of Supernatural Ministries, so they organized Advance Redding, a non-profit organization that became autonomous from the church and would provide day to day management, not only for the church’s school but also for the many concerts and other events hosted there. Advance Redding maintained the building and made a lot of improvements to the lighting and audio systems, while booking a variety of major acts. The Covid pandemic slashed attendance for the Bethel School, and it became a largely online experience that no longer needed the auditorium. With its most consistent and lucrative tenant gone, Advance Redding has been bleeding money ever since. The City Council has come to the rescue more than once, and a local sales tax would likely have made it work, but without those lifesavers Advance Redding has dried up. The final event at the Civic Auditorium with Advance Redding as the operator will be this year’s Freedom Festival on July 4th. The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight and the Nutcracker Ballet will be moved to the Cascade Theatre. All other shows that were set for after July 31st are canceled, with refunds available where tickets were purchased. Information is at reddingcivic.com.
-Steve Gibson