Firestick Grill at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., was ready for a buffet dinner before a performance by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on Valentine's Day. (Courtesy Amalie Arena)
Venues across the nation have romantic Valentine's Day concerts scheduled to woo lovebirds and romantics alike.
For example, in Tampa, Fla., Amalie Arena is hosting Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. "Since I've been here, we really try to put an emphasis on Valentine's Day," said Kevin Preast, senior vice president of event management for the 13,000-seat. Bocelli "is a legendary tenor, and we wanted to find an act that aligns with that romance and fun."
Bocelli is on tour, so Preast asked his promoter if the singer would be willing to play Valentine's Day, which is on a Wednesday this year, rather than the traditional weekend gig.
"We were looking at several days across the span of a week, and I said I'd rather push for him to play on Wednesday night," Preast said. He noted the same thing happened last year, when he booked Bon Jovi on Valentine's Day.
"We try to align it with an act that couples will enjoy," Preast said. "Everybody has a little romance in them, but it's a little bit easier when you're spoon-fed some of the magic."
Bocelli tickets, which ranged from $75 up to $300, were nearly sold out before the gig. The venue also has an attached restaurant called Firestick Grill where guests could have a romantic, buffet-style dinner before the show at $100 a person.
Other venues across the U.S. opted to host one of seven "Valentine's Love Jams" with R&B artists such as Tyrese Gibson, who will play EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Va., on Feb. 17.
"There was a promoter that we had not worked with in the past who I think had this package playing in several different other cities," said Barry Geisler, general manager of EagleBank Arena.
Chicago-based Urban Vibe Entertainment is the promoter of the seven Valentine's Love Jams. The other dates for the tour: Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Feb. 8; Detroit Masonic Temple, Feb. 9; the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Feb. 10; the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Feb. 11; Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 16; and the Landers Center in Southhaven, Miss., Feb. 18.
"We were able to catch on to this mini-tour. They're acts that were kind of popular a while ago. These shows don't come around often enough. It's a little bit nostalgia," Geisler said.
The acts include Avant, Ginuwine, Joe and Next.
"It's from people's early romantic days," Geisler said. "We think it's going to be a great night for a love jam."
Tickets are being sold through Ticketmaster for $59 to $129.
EagleBank doesn't typically try to find artists to play on Valentine's Day, Geisler said, highlighting that the venue has a George Mason University men's basketball game on Feb. 14.
"That's why it's helpful to have a promoter that has a package that he can put out on the road for a solid week," he said.
Rick Johnson from Urban Vibe Entertainment contacted EagleBank about the gig, Geisler said. Johnson did not return requests for comment.
Smaller venues across the nation have romantic gigs lined up, including several B.B. King Clubs.
The B.B. King Club in Montgomery, Ala., is hosting a Valentine's Night Out featuring R&B artists Calvin Richardson and Clinton Barbers.
Richardson "came before and brought about 500 to 600 people to the venue," said Willie Thomas, director of entertainment and marketing for the club. "With us being the only venue in Montgomery that is actually doing a Valentine's event, I think it's going to be huge."
The club is a restaurant with a stage and is offering a three-course meal for two for $125. General admission without dinner is $30 and singles are $65 with the meal.
"Music and romance and Valentine's Day, all of that goes hand and hand," said Chea Reddoch, B.B. King Club director of operations.
