(CLEVELAND) The Cleveland Concert Company has announced it is reevaluating the future of the InCuya Music Festival that took place on Aug. 25 and 26 in Cleveland. In light of cancelling its contract with AEG Presents, the organizers will determine a more sustainable business model for future events.
The timing of a restructuring at AEG Presents and evaluation of the overall business case contributed to the decision to hold off on staging the 2019 music and cultural festival.
“While the inaugural event showed a lot of potential, our team felt that the timing to proceed with the event in 2019 would be challenging. Building on what we learned, we’re open to considering potential options for the future,” said Board Chair Sunny Nixon, Cleveland Concert Company.
In addition to the Cleveland Concert Company, supporters of InCuya included the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Destination Cleveland and the City of Cleveland.
The event was one of many city-wide initiatives designed to attract visitors and support the travel, tourism and hospitality industries in Cleveland. The city has a strong track record of success in hosting large-scale events, including five Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, the 2016 Republican National Convention, and nearly 200 amateur sporting events such as the Women’s Final Four, the National Senior Games and International Gay Games as well as recently attracted events such as the 2019 MLB All-Star Game and the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.
“Planning and hosting a 2-day downtown music festival of this scale is a significant undertaking, and we’re proud to have supported this group of risk takers,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland. “And we’ll continue to support future events that help nurture our more than 68,000 travel and tourism jobs and $8.8 billion of economic impact from the tourism industry in Cuyahoga County.”
InCuya is just one example of how visitors and the Cleveland community celebrate the origins, diversity and evolution of rock in the heart of downtown Cleveland. The city has become a great place for live music, and it continues to grow. Numerous shows take place throughout the year at venues that include The Q, Browns Stadium, Nautica and House of Blues. And over the summer, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame hosted 80 days of live music in just three months.
“InCuya delivered a great fan experience and exciting live music on a grand scale in downtown Cleveland,” said Greg Harris, President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “With some retooling, a future festival could be a major success, and we look forward to continuing to support music initiatives that embody our mission to engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll.”
© 2018 iHeartMedia Photo Courtesy Vic Gideon/WTAM 1100
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