Dec 20, 2020
Youngstown and Mahoning County have long been blessed with multiple sports, event and entertainment venues, all valuable in their own ways. But in light of last week’s news report about recent administrative changes, two facilities in particular come to mind the DeYor Performing Arts Center and Stambaugh Auditorium.
These historic Youngstown facilities are equally beautiful and extremely valuable venues for our area, and we could afford to lose neither. While they both offer large, exquisite concert auditoriums comparable in age, size and seating capacity, each also is unique in terms of other spaces, location, logistics and parking.
Frankly, the value of each is immeasurable to this community.
Chris Jaskiewicz, vice president of the YSS board, blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for the decision.
“It’s just tough to run a large venue like that,” he said. “We’ve worked really hard and last year started to gain momentum and had some great shows. Then COVID hit, and it really hit hard … Our revenue comes from shows, it comes from people in the building, and we can’t have people in the building right now. That’s really hurt us.”
The DeYor complex includes Powers Auditorium, which will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2021, as well as the 600-seat Ford Family Recital Hall and Flad Pavilion, which also has been used as a performance space.
agray@tribtoday.com
Stambaugh Auditorium announced a management agreement Tuesday with the Youngstown Symphony Society Board of Directors to operate the DeYor Performing Arts Center. Afterward, the symphony board laid off DeYor’s administrative staff.
Chris Jaskiewicz, vice president of the YSS board, blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for the decision.
“It’s just tough to run a large venue like that,” he said. “We’ve worked really hard and last year started to gain momentum and had some great shows. Then COVID hit, and it really hit hard … Our revenue comes from shows, it comes from people in the building, and we can’t have people in the building right now. That’s really hurt us.”
Dec 15, 2020
YOUNGSTOWN The Youngstown Symphony Society Board of Directors laid off the administrative staff at the DeYor Performing Arts Center and entered into a management agreement with the staff of Stambaugh Auditorium to operate the downtown Youngstown theater complex.
According to a statement issued Tuesday by Stambaugh, the goal of the management agreement is to not only preserve, but to maximize the usage of the two premier performing arts venues in the Youngstown area.
DeYor, located at 260 W. Federal St., includes both Powers Auditorium and the Ford Family Recital Hall and also has hosted performances in its Flad Pavilion.
Matt Pagac, Stambaugh chief executive and operating officer is quoted in the statement, “While the arts and culture has been especially hard-hit due to COVID-related cancellations and the ban on mass gatherings, we feel that by sharing services and reducing costs, both organizations will emerge stronger when the pandemic is over.”