WICHITA — In the final Eagles news of the day, the June 30 concert date is back on Live Nation’s website.
And, as a final bit of confirmation, there’s now a sign just inside Intrust Bank Arena (and visible from Kellogg) that says, “I gotta peaceful easy feeling.”
And now that that’s settled, so do I.
WICHITA — I’m getting anything but a peaceful, easy feeling on this Eagles situation.
Now Live Nation has removed the June 30 Intrust Bank Arena concert confirmation from its website.
My bet is the show is still happening, but someone put the information on the website before it was supposed to be there.
Stay tuned.
WICHITA — Live Nation now confirms the Eagles are coming to Intrust Bank Arena on June 30.
No one with the concert promoter returned a call for comment, but the date is now on the Live Nation website.
The site says there’s a presale for tickets starting June 2.
WICHITA — Back before Intrust Bank Arena opened, there was a lot of speculation about what act would kick off the new venue.
The most popular pick was the Eagles, except they weren’t on tour when the arena opened in January.
They are now.
There will be an announcement next week about a big show coming to the arena, and our bet is it’s the Eagles.
The band is on its Long Road Out of Eden tour now.
Its website lists a number of upcoming dates, though none for Wichita — yet.
The Eagles are playing in St. Louis on June 24 and in Dallas on June 26. Those are the closest cities announced so far. It would not be surprising to see a Wichita date around that time.
The Eagles are playing in Austin October 10, so it looks like there’s plenty of time this summer to schedule more venues.
The Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban are special guests for a number of scheduled dates so far.
An arena spokeswoman won’t confirm or deny that there’s even an announcement coming next week.
Most likely, the announcement will be coming from concert promoter Live Nation.
A Live Nation spokeswoman didn’t return calls for comment.
We’ll keep you posted.
WICHITA — There’s a 2 p.m. Monday press conference scheduled to announce a major rock act coming to Intrust Bank Arena.
There’s no confirmation, but it looks likely that Billy Joel and Elton John are bringing their Face 2 Face tour here.
They’re performing in Denver on Feb. 22 at the Pepsi Center. Then, they’re performing at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City on Feb. 25 and at the Sprint Center in Kansas City on Feb. 27.
An employee with Live Nation, which represents Joel and John, confirms that there will be an announcement coming from the company.
The employee won’t give other details except to say, “It’s going to be a big show.”
Arena spokeswoman Beth King says she’s not at liberty to talk details.
“The press conference is being hosted by a promoter and not the arena,” she says.
WICHITA — On the heels of Jacque Wedel’s departure from Hartman Arena, general manager John Nath (pictured left) is now gone, too.
“Effective today, John Nath is no longer associated with the Hartman Arena,” says Wink Hartman Sr. “Arena management has decided to go in a new direction at this time.”
Nath couldn’t be reached for comment.
Wedel, who was marketing and advertising manager, and Nath used to be in similar positions at the Kansas Coliseum and joined Hartman Arena in 2008 before its March 2009 opening.
“Effective immediately, Mr. Eric Blockie will fill the general manager’s position at Hartman Arena,” Hartman says.
Earlier this month, Have You Heard? reported that Blockie joined Hartman Arena as director of financial and marketing development, which resulted in Wedel’s departure.
“I just felt when Eric came on board, it was time for her to pursue other opportunities,” Hartman said at the time.
Blockie is from the St. Louis area, where he worked for Live Nation, the world’s biggest promoter.
“Eric brings a diverse background in the industry to Hartman Arena,” Hartman says, “and will continue to bring a wide range of entertainment options to the community.”
WICHITA — There are several changes at Hartman Arena, including the departure of one half of a well-known duo.
Jacque Wedel is no longer marketing and advertising manager.
Wedel and general manager John Nath both left the Kansas Coliseum to join Hartman Arena early last year prior to its opening in March of this year.
A few weeks before Wedel’s departure last week, Eric Blockie joined Hartman Arena as director of financial and marketing development.
Blockie is from the St. Louis area where he worked for Live Nation, the world’s biggest promoter.
“I just felt when Eric came on board, it was time for her to pursue other opportunities,” Wink Hartman Sr. says of Wedel.
Wedel couldn’t be reached for comment.
Hartman says Nath’s position isn’t affected.
“That’s what I hope,” he says.
Nath expresses the same sentiment when asked if he’s going anywhere.
“I hope not,” he says.
Hartman also is forming a new company, Hartmoor Concessions, to handle food and beverages at the arena.
He’s given Sodexo notice that he’ll be canceling his contract, effective in early September.
“We will have 100 percent control of the concessions,” Hartman says.
“It’s just my nature,” Hartman says of creating new companies to keep services in house.
“Yes, I will make more money,” he says. But he says he’ll also be able to offer better food and drink products. Hartman says he wants to expand the arena’s menu.
Sue Montalbano will run Hartmoor Concessions. She’s been pastry chef at Hartman’s Chester’s Chophouse for four years.
“So she’s got just a little bit of experience,” he says.
Hartman doesn’t have more changes to announce now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t in the future.
“We’re always trying to improve the arena,” he says. “We’re going to keep kicking it till we get it 100 percent right.
“I want it to be right.”