Opinion: The Future of Anderson County Entertainment Rocks
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
When it comes to putting on a national music festival, Anderson County rocks.
It’s been a week now since “Rock this Country” brought more than 41,000 each day to the two-day festival, and those who are evaluating the concert could not be happier.
The influx of folks from almost every state and even a few from other countries coupled with crowded spaces, hot weather and tons of beer had some people concerned about the event. But such concerns proved unfounded, at least in part because of the cooperative effort between Anderson City Police and the Anderson Sheriff’s Office.
Keep in mind the overwhelming majority of officers and deputies were off duty and paid by the promoters, not taxpayers.
“The large law-enforcement presence certainly helped assure things would go well,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “The seven months of planning and tremendous efforts of all who were involved also made a big difference.”
The two-day festival had an estimated economic impact of more than $25 million on Anderson County, but the long-term results could prove even more lucrative.
Not only have the promoters promised to bring this event back to Anderson next year, other promoters now see that the county can host major events without a hitch.
Additional music events are already in the works, and not only for country music fans (a criticism that has long dogged bookings of concerts here.) While it’s a little early to release the information, it is a marker of how word of the success of “Rock this Country” could make Anderson County a new destination for festivals and other large events.
There are far too many people to properly thank for the success of last week’s event, but here are a few of the groups and folks who get credit for how smoothly things played out:
The City of Anderson Police Department and Chief Jim Stewart.
Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride and Chief Deputy Ross Brown.
The leadership of the Anderson County Civic Center: Civic Center Manager Adrienne Cole, Event Coordinator Tyler Busby, and Operations Supervisor Clarence Sullivan.
Anderson County Facilities Manager Brian Richardson.
Anderson County Emergency Mangement Director Josh Hawkins.
Anderson County Deputy Administrator Matt Hogan.
Anderson County Solid Waste Director Greg Smith.
Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns.
These folks led the efforts of dozens of other citizens who helped not only set up and monitor the big event, but cleaned up afterwards. If you have driven by the site, there is no evidence it was filled with 41,000 concert-goers a week ago.
Anderson County continues to experience what seems like whiplash growth, and those of us old enough to remember when a good crowd for a concert or event was a few hundred packing the old Anderson Recreation Center hangar find such progress hard to digest.
But coupled with the international impact of Green Pond Landing Event Center, which brings in thousands of anglers and millions of dollars each year, Anderson County’s new designation as a prime concert destination will only boost entertainment opportunities for those of us who live here and visitors from all over the world.
Three cheers to all who looked beyond what looked like binding restrictions of facilities and brought a bigger vision to Anderson County for marquis events. Rock on.