[Mpls] Council Votes to Negotiate with Current Theater Managers

[David Brauer]

Greg Luce notes:

> David Brauer [on the position that the Ordway deal would result in its
> monopoly of the big theater market]
> 
> No, it is. If you wanted to present a big theater show, where else would
you
> play? You'd have to deal with the Ordway.
> 
> Me:
> 
> I'm still unconvinced, but open to argument.  I'll grudgingly accept for
> purposes of this argument that the Ordway deal creates a monopoly on the
> 'big theater show' market in the Twin Cities.  But I'm unconvinced that
the
> Ordway--or the proposed Twin Cities Theater Alliance--will exhibit
> monopolistic practices, such as artificially inflated ticket prices or,
> conversely, artificially low prices to drive perceived competitors away.

I basically agree. While the Ordway deal would create a local theater
monopoly, I don't think the harm is that great overall. It is one point
among many.

Fundamentally, though, the Historic Theater Group deal seems more certain to
get the theater debt & capital costs off our backs, which is why (for
purposes of Devil's advocacy), I favor that bid in this debate.

David Brauer
Kingfield