Singers, Band Contest Settle Stadium Date Conflict -- DESTINY'S CHILD Switches Concert To GIANT CENTER

(From The Patriot-News [Carlisle, Pennsylvania] -- By Matt Miller)

[The same day the ruling came down from the judge, HERSHEY and FIVE STAR reached a compromise regarding THE HERSHEY SPECTACULAR. The DESTINY'S CHILD concert was moved to the GIANT CENTER. The SPECTACULAR is back on for HERSHEYPARK STADIUM. Good news in the end for this great annual DRUM CORPS show!]

Thanks to a compromise, the beat of a drum-and-bugle corps contest and tunes from the pop group DESTINY'S CHILD will both echo in HERSHEY on the same AUGUST night.

The deal, struck late yesterday, will save THE HERSHEY SPECTACULAR drum corps competition, which seemed doomed after a CUMBERLAND COUNTY judge ruled Tuesday that it did not have dibs on use of HERSHEYPARK STADIUM on August 7th.

CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA-based FIVE STAR BRASS PRODUCTIONS sued HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT AND RESORTS COMPANY, claiming the entertainment giant breached an oral contract by bumping its show from the stadium in favor of DESTINY'S CHILD.

The conflict evaporated yesterday when DESTINY'S CHILD switched its August 7th concert to THE GIANT CENTER.

By afternoon, HERSHEY officials were offering to reinstate the "hold" FIVE STAR claimed it had on that date for the stadium, provided FIVE STAR reaches a written reservation contract and drops its lawsuit.

They quickly found a taker.

"We're pleased that HERSHEY and FIVE STAR have been able to come to the table and work in good faith to make THE HERSHEY SPECTACULAR show happen," said KARL ROMINGER, FIVE STAR's lawyer. That show has been held at the stadium for at least 20 years.

HERSHEY spokesman GARRETT GALLIA said his firm learned of the shift by DESTINY's CHILD to THE GIANT CENTER yesterday. He said it was based largely on expected ticket sales for the concert, which is part of the group's farewell tour.

DESTINY's CHILD originally asked for the 20,000-seat stadium. During a hearing before JUDGE EDWARD E. GUIDO on Monday, HERSHEY officials said the pop group wanted the 7,000-seat STAR PAVILLION, which adjoins the stadium. But noise conflicts would have precluded running FIVE STAR's event in the stadium simultaneously, they said.

HERSHEY had offered the use of the 10,000-seat GIANT CENTER for the drum contest, but FIVE STAR Chairman LARRY HERSHMAN said the competition must be held on a football field.

John Santamaria, thanks for the post.