Promoter: Too Early To Book Events Center Shows

Opening day is 18 months away.  And the closer it gets, the more people are wondering what events will fill the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

The Summit League has already expressed interest in the new building. There will be other special events and trade shows to capitalize on the space offered in a Convention Center, Arena, Hotel and the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

The city has also promised more entertainment options. We wanted to know what kinds of big acts will fill the stage. And the answer is that right now, it's still too soon to plan.

"I don't think things are going to change that much. But we were too small before. Too old before. So there will be acts that will look now because they couldn't even break even before," Tim Mikkels with Gunn Productions said.

But Mikkels says the big question is: Who will be hot when the events center opens in the fall of 2014?  Mikkels is a South Dakota concert promoter who's held events in the Arena. He says he'll be looking at the new facility too.

"Generally, we're looking at acts six to 12 months out and we're executing contracts four to six months out," Mikkels said.

So Mikkels says with about 18 months left, scheduling any show is not really an option yet. But the building is an attractive option, to mid-level promoters like himself and the large national shows.

"I appreciate a new facility. We needed it. We're gonna use it, but let's be honest. There's only a handful of acts that can fill that big a venue," Mikkels said.

Those acts are usually handled by large national promoters. And show business changes like the South Dakota weather. So someone hot now, might be colder than a winter wind in August 2014.

"The artists don't know if they're going to be touring in 18 months from now. Even if they're hot, they might be when they're taking a sabbatical," Mikkels said.

Mikkels says the real work to promote events will happen when the building begins to go up.