Kannapolis considers alternative summer concert series structures

KANNAPOLIS — The Kannapolis Village Park Concert Series could change amid continued financial pressure on the parks and recreation department, including paid tickets for non-residents.

During the council’s February retreat and at other meetings, the Kannapolis City Council has criticized parks and recreation spending on the summer concert series and encouraged staff to find a cheaper alternative to the current structure.

At the Kannapolis City Council mini retreat on Nov. 5, Parks and Recreation Director Gary Mills presented a proposal for a new system — charging for the Village Park Concert Series.

The council did not consider approving the plan at the retreat; rather, it was a suggested alternative to reduce costs. The council will likely officially revisit the topic in December or January to give Mills and the rest of parks and recreation guidance on the plan.

Regardless, Mills presented a plan to charge non-residents and day-of ticket buyers while allowing residents to get free tickets ahead of time. Mills did not announce a set ticket price during the presentation.

Paid tickets would be coupled with a focus on regional acts for much of the summer, with larger concerts to bookend the schedule. Additionally, coolers would no longer be allowed, encouraging concertgoers to purchase food and drinks from concessions and food trucks.

A paid system would require more security and fencing around Village Park during the concert; however, it could offset some operational costs, which the City Council has criticized.

With additional security, fencing and ticketing costs, Mills estimated the first year’s operations would cost roughly $77,000. In total, parks and recreation budgeted $400,000 for the program in the 2026-27 fiscal year, down from $575,000 in 2025-26.

As part of the presentation, Mills said downtown traffic increased during the concerts, citing the downtown crowd-tracking software the city uses to track patronage. However, Council member Isaiah Payne said downtown business owners have come to him complaining that the concert series and downtown events do not generate revenue for them.

Council member Naomi Hatchell conceded that paid ticketing could improve safety at the park for large turnouts like that at Josh Turner’s concert in the summer. However, she questioned the temporary fence expenses, which were listed as $24,000 per concert. Mills clarified that temporary fencing would have to be rented for concerts around three-quarters of the area, but other fencing options may be available.

In response to the question of focusing on regional or national acts, Council member Darrell Jackson expected the city would need to book larger acts to justify charging for the concert. In that vein, he suggested not charging for regional acts that may not draw people to pay, with the goal of breaking even for larger ticketed events. However, Mills expected that the goal should be breaking even on operations rather than the whole concert.

Mayor Pro Tem Ryan Dayvault suggested using the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers stadium for ticketed events, as they already have the software for that.

However, City Manager Wilmer Melton and City Attorney Andrew Kelly clarified that the city’s contract with the stadium owners did not include using the stadium for paid events and that it would require additional permission. Mills also clarified that hosting an event in the stadium costs at least $90,000 for production costs, not including the talent costs.

Jackson suggested the Laureate Way horseshoe as a venue option, but Mills clarified that would require more fencing and full staging, which would likely cost more.

Mayor Doug Wilson questioned the focus on booking larger acts when he sees the series as more of a social event than a music event. He encouraged Mills to focus on smaller regional bands that would not cost as much, keeping the series free for attendees.

Council member Jeanne Dixon also expressed that the concerts are often social events for her that she enjoys. She also raised concerns about overlapping dates with Cannon Ballers games, which Mills confirmed are only two in the upcoming year.

Council member Dianne Berry said she believes charging for the concert would be a “logistical nightmare.” She encouraged revisiting the proposed acts to keep it more affordable and finding other approaches.

With the last word, Payne suggested another approach — a day-long concert festival. He expects a festival would allow for more acts while saving money on operations.

The council took no direct action on the concert series, but it will consider alternatives in December or January.