There was an article in the Buffalo News late last week about Thursday at the Square:

The Buffalo Place board Wednesday learned revenues for the 21-year-old concert series missed budget targets by $200,722, up from earlier projections that it would fall flat by a maximum of $140,000. In presenting the updated revenue figures, Buffalo Place Treasurer John R. Koelmel said the free summer shows, which rely on sales of beer and food to cover costs, have probably hit their peak.

This is a ridiculous response:

We had a bit of a monopoly for a while, but now we’re facing competition from other venues, especially the casinos,” Koelmel said. “I think [that] in terms of upside, we have hit the wall.”

Secondly, the acts that made up the 2007 concert series were “part” of the problem but not the biggest one. I actually thought it was a good lineup. But bringing acts that an over 21 crowd might actually enjoy will definitely ensure more beer sales. Wh,en you cater the music to people under the age of 21, guess what? No beer sales, duh…

The biggest problem though is simple, yet one Buffalo Place refuses to address. Location. Depending on where you wind up in that mass of humanity every week, you can’t hear. Half of the concert grounds are covered by trees.