Kodebreaker, a 1980s rock cover band, took the stage during the Party at the Pangle event in July at the Pangle Pavilion in downtown Lima.
LIMA — The season may be nearing its end for Pangle Pavilion, but the city of Lima and the Veterans Memorial Civic Center have already gotten a headstart on programming for the 2025 season.
With an agreement made at the Oct. 7 Lima City Council meeting (bit.ly/3YxFATx), the city, Allen County and the Civic Center established a programming committee made up of representatives from each partner to decide which acts to bring in and set fees for renting the venue.
“The committee meets once a month and looks to bring in both local and regional acts that reflect the diversity of our community and different genres of music,” Mayor Sharetta Smith said. “We also set the fees for rental of the amphitheater and that is something that is reviewed annually.”
The Allen County Commissioners agreed to engage in discussions on the agreement at the beginning of October (bit.ly/3XPU1km) after each party became aware of limitations for how the Civic Center, which it owns, can conduct itself on city property, such as the land the Greater Lima Region Park and Amphitheater sits on.
“Our role, by statute, is to own the properties, meaning the Civic Center structure,” commissioner Beth Seibert said at the time. “We appoint an 11-member board to oversee its operations and when the pavilion was finished there was an agreement between the city of Lima, the Rotary Club and the Civic Center to operate it. In the last 12 months or so, Allen County realized that we were required to be a party to that and there are certain things we can and can’t do.”
Smith said the memorandum of understanding clarifies the responsibilities of each party.
“The agreement allows the city to enter into a contract with the Civic Center to manage and operate the amphitheater and it also lays out a special fund that Rotary brings monies for, for ongoing maintenance,” she said. “It lays out the segregation of duties and says the city of Lima is responsible for maintenance and upkeep. Then there is another agreement between the city and the Civic Center Foundation that allows the latter to operate the alcohols there.”
Civic Center CEO Abe Ambroza said he was excited about the new agreement.
“The city has been fantastic to work with,” he said. “They want this venue to be successful and so do we, but it’s just about learning as we go here. After the first year, we’re making a few minor adjustments to the new MOU that will make it even simpler and easier to hold more events that are more successful.”
Three types of events can happen at the amphitheater: nonprofit events like the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce’s Multicultural Festival, traditional music events like the ones that took the stage throughout the summer and weddings or birthdays that individuals can hold by renting the venue.
Ambroza said the future could be even brighter for next year’s events.
“I think there were definitely a few shows that were successful that promoters are looking at as examples of events and concerts that they want to bring here and now that the venue is more established I have access through these promoters to some bigger name touring artists that are looking to add Lima as a summer stop next year, as well,” he said. “We have several shows that are penciled in, but nothing is confirmed. We are very excited about a few of these potential shows we are working on.”
The venue finished its season with a concert and watch party for the Ohio State-Oregon game Saturday, Oct. 12, but the amphitheater is still available to rent for private events.
One thing already on next year’s schedule is the unveiling of a 9/11 memorial set for that Thursday.
For more information or to book an event, visit panglepavilion.com.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
