It has been a banner year for Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton, Calif., which is currently on a streak of three sold-out shows in three months — Dancing with the Stars, Peppa Pig and Styx, which is coming up. And that’s just a year after the city emerged from bankruptcy.
Stockton spent over $2 million in 2000 to renovate the historic 2,000-seat venue. And then the recession hit hard.
Stockton, in fact, declared bankruptcy in 2009-10 and emerged at the beginning of last year, creating an interesting challenge for venue management. SMG took over the theater and Stockton Arena in February 2011.
“We’ve been slowly growing the popularity of the Bob Hope Theater ever since,” said Kendra Clark, manager there for SMG.
Over the past year services that had been on hold or discontinued have come back, she added.
“But mostly, the community came together during bankruptcy and even more now.” New development is underway and there sits the Bob Hope Theater, the heart of downtown.
Bankruptcy provided some challenges, Clark admitted. She had a lot of explaining to do to potential clients. When trying to book her venues, she faced the stigma or bankruptcy and crime that had become associated with Stockton to those outside the city. “People had visions of tumbleweeds, someone actually said that to me on the phone one time” Clark said.
But it was business as usual. “The day after the city filed (and I live in the city), trash was picked up, services were ongoing, and it was business as usual.”
On the upside it brought the community together. “People wanted to fight for Stockton’s reputation,” she said.
Bob Hope Theater does approximately 48 events, up about five over last year. Its operating budget is $500,000.
Clark also manages Stockton Arena, which is on the upswing with a new hockey team, the Stockton Heat, a Western AHL branch out owned by the NHL Calgary (Alberta) Flames. The Stockton Heat are averaging 4,500 attendance in the 8,500-seat arena for 32 games October to mid-April.
In August, they hosted the San Jose Sabrecats in the Arena Football League conference championship and then, a week later, hosted the ArenaBowl. SAP Center in San Jose had booking conflicts and “they are very good neighbors,” Clark said. It helps that the head coach of the Sabrecats was born and raised in Stockton.
In 2017, they’ll host the NCAA women’s regional basketball tournament in March, its first time in Stockton, and the Pan Pacific Baton Twirling Tournament in January.
Stockton Arena averages 120 events annually and is a popular stop for urban, pop, country and cheerleading and baton twirling.
Contact: Kendra Clark, (209) 373-1415