LAKE COUNTY — The City of Lakeport announced it will hold a community meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20 at Lakeport City Hall regarding the possibility of hosting BoardStock 2007 in Lakeport this August. Discussion has been ongoing since Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa announced earlier this month that it would no longer host the event due to problems with underage drinking at last year”s event.
Opinions have been expressed both in favor of and against the idea of the city hosting BoardStock at Library Park in the heart of downtown Lakeport. Citizens concerned about the kind of crowd the extreme sports event has historically drawn and the potential effect on the city have come forward at meetings held in City Hall previously.
Promoter Rob Stimmel said his events close between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. nightly, not only because of the necessity for sunlight for the sporting events, but also to avoid problems with excessive drinking.
Acting City Manager Richard Knoll and Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melissa Fulton maintain that the event would ideally be staged as an alcohol-free, family event.
Facing the city are concerns not only expressed by local citizens, but about cost to law enforcement, cost to the city and the effect on surrounding businesses, among others.
Meanwhile, General Manager Greg Bennett at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa which hosted BoardStock for the past two years said the resort has plans of its own.
When asked if KHRS would be doing any cross-promotions if the event should be held in Lakeport during its tentatively scheduled mid-August running time, Bennett said, “No, we won”t promote BoardStock; that”s an event that we”re no longer affiliated with.
“We will do what we always do which is promote our events and concerts throughout the year. On our concert nights and special event nights we oftentimes fill every hotel room in the county,” Bennett said.
The usual summer kickoff event will take place on Memorial weekend, and the concert venue”s first outdoor show will feature Reacal Flatts two nights in a row over Easter weekend. And that”s just for starters.
“We”re getting ready for a huge year, and we”ve got a great program,” said Bennett. “Although BoardStock will not be part of that, all the other mainstays of our calendar that Northern California fell in love with over the years will be there.”
Bennett said among the mainstays are the Pepsi Celebrity Shootout scheduled for August 24 and 25 and the Grand Finale weekend of Summerfest over Labor Day weekend. He said it would be a “huge event” that would feature the 11th annual “takin” it to the streets” motorcycle road ralley.
“That weekend we”ll feature a new event, as yet unnamed, bigger, badder and better,” said Bennett. It wil feature extreme motorcross, a jetski “Sky Walker” stunt team, hardcore skydiving, free admission to Festival Row with vender booths, live entertainment and more.
Regarding the potential sale of KHRS to the San Francisco firm Kenwood Investments, Bennett referred all questions to attorney James Baker.
Baker represents the plumbers union that owns the resort in ongoing federal litigation over alleged misappropriation of union pension funds.
“What”s happening at the ownership level doesn”t affect what we do at the property and event level. And we expect to have an awesome 2007 … and beyond,” said Bennett.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
