🍻 Is Cleveland Overbuilding for Concerts?

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: One local bakery just went from neighborhood favorite to full-blown phenomenon — and yes, the pastries are worth the hype 🥐🍰🔥

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

When is too much of a good thing way too much?

Plans to open two new downtown concert venues – a 10,000-seater along the lake and a 6,200-seat amphitheater along the Cuyahoga – have been hailed as “economic drivers.”

But what are the drivers – especially in a six-county region that has seen stagnant population growth for 10 years?

With about 72,500 concert seats currently, the addition of 16,200 will increase capacity by 22 percent – resulting in one seat for every 22 residents.

“These venues are going into publicly subsidized developments,” says Sean Watterson, co-owner of the Happy Dog and National Independent Venue Association board member. “We’re going to have more venues fighting for the same events and it’s going to result in higher prices for shows and concessions.”

Intense Competition, Thinner Margins

The riverfront project, rumored to be operated by AEG, will compete with Blossom Music Center. Live Nation will operate Bedrock’s, which will compete with Jacob’s Pavilion.

Despite growth in the concert industry since COVID-19, it is expected to moderate amid intensified competition and thinner margins.

And with corporate giants controlling 70% of the market, it will increase challenges for independent venues -- with over 60% reporting unprofitability in 2024 despite increased attendance.

“There needs to be a reinvestment in the locals rather than subsidies for national promoters,” adds Watterson. “Their revenues leave Cleveland. Ours stay here.”

We’ll do a deeper dive into what amounts to a publicly subsidized benefit for corporate giants at the expense of locals in the 216 Insider. Subscribe to it here.

There will be ‘blood’ in the sky, and the star gazers among us will gorge on the celestial treat.

Clevelanders will wake up to a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday when the Earth positions itself directly between the Sun and the Moon -- casting its shadow over the lunar surface.

It will produce ‘blood moon,’ due to its reddish hue.

The timing of the eclipse is notable because it creates a rare "sunrise twist" -- where the reddened moon and the rising sun might be visible simultaneously.

It unfolds in stages, with a partial eclipse starting at 4:50 a.m. The total eclipse runs from 6:04 a.m. to 7 a.m.  Watch a NASA simulation here.

How to watch:

Find an unobstructed view of the western horizon, away from city lights and tall buildings.

Popular view spots:

Edgewater Park or Lakefront areas for clear lake views. Cuyahoga Valley National Park for darker skies. Higher elevations like the Metroparks for better horizon access.

What makes it special:

It will be the last visible total eclipse from North America until 2028.

WCSB was a cultural jewel for half a century, until Cleveland State University shuttered beloved station and handed it over to Ideastream.

It amounted to a hostile takeover to generations of listeners and became one of the city’s biggest (and unlikely) stories – one that resulted in protests, unanimous condemnation of Cleveland City Council, national attention and a lawsuit filed against CSU and its president, Laura Bloomberg.

Beyond all that, WCSB has always been about music – and the station is back on the airwaves.

It now streams as XCSB.

Programming is handled by WCSB staff and includes shows by legendary alumni like Steve Wainsted and new additions like Little Lighthouse.

Plans are underway to find a permanent space for a studio while pursuing legal action against CSU. Read about the lawsuit here.

Monday

15th annual Short. Sweet. Film. Fest.: It started out as a basement bash. Now, it’s an all-out cinematic soiree with 350 docs and narrative shorts from local, national and international filmmakers. It opens 6 tonight and runs through Friday in Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square. Info.  

Tuesday

Cavs-Pistons: The Cavs have had a sloppy – and often ugly – stretch after injuries to James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Keon Ellis and Dean Wade upset momentum and the rotation. At 7 p.m., they take on the Pistons at Rocket Arena. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Places that take over a beloved, long-running spot often have a hard time convincing the regulars to keep on coming back.

Branka’s Bake Haus has managed to keep the loyalists of Rito’s Bakery and then some.

Since opening in August, the Euro-style bakery has added a full-on food menu -- from sandwiches to pizza to the paprikash and stuffed cabbage owner Branka Djurin serves at his Parma restaurant Das Schnitzel Haus.

It’s also just rolled out a bar serving eight beers and ciders, including brews from Schnitz Ale Brewery.

Suffragette City: Cleveland, 1912. Local and National leaders gather at the Woman Suffrage headquarters on Euclid Avenue.

Ooh and don’t forget! Tag @The216Scoop on Facebook & @scoopcle on Instagram to get your photos in the Scoop!

53 °F 🌡️ 41 °F | ⛅➡️☁️ (Increasing Clouds / Mild & Breezy) | 10% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 16 mph (≈ 14 knots)

49 °F 🌡️ 28 °F | 🌧️ (Rain Showers / Frontal Passage) | 80% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 20 mph (≈ 17 knots)

36 °F 🌡️ 25 °F | ☁️➡️🌤️ (Cooler / AM Flurries to Clearing) | 30% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 14 mph (≈ 12 knots)

_{Please note that weather conditions can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking a reliable local weather service.}

Home vs. Pistons, 7:00 PM March 3 (Tuesday)

Home vs. Celtics, 1:00 PM March 8 (Sunday)

Away vs. Rangers, 3:05 PM March 2 (Monday)

Home vs. Dodgers, 3:05 PM March 3 (Tuesday)

Away vs. White Sox, 8:05 PM March 5 (Thursday)

Home vs. Angels, 3:05 PM March 6 (Friday)

Home vs. Padres, 3:05 PM March 7 (Saturday)

Away vs. Rockies, 4:10 PM March 8 (Sunday)

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