Columbus Dispatch (02/04/19) Ferenchik, Mark

Opponents to Columbus, Ohio's 5 percent taxes on admission tickets to raise money for the arts and Nationwide Arena repairs include national concert promoters AEG and Live Nation, along with Feld Entertainment. Among the local opponents are Studio 35 and venues such as Express Live, Union, and Axis, as well as the National Association of Theatre Owners. They intend to spend nearly $104,000 to collect 11,030 voter signatures to put the issue on the May or November ballot. "We have a list of over 100 people that are ready to go circulate petitions," notes State Medical Board of Ohio President Mike Gonidakis, who co-founded the protest movement with sports agent Bret Adams, who also owns the Bluestone entertainment venue. Adams says for-profit venues that are being taxed must vie with other venues and events that are not taxed. One of the 5 percent taxes applies to tickets on performances and sporting events at venues with more than 400 seats, and for tickets costing over $10; another 5 percent tax would be levied on tickets sold for Nationwide Arena events. "We know the arts and culture segment of the community needs additional funding," acknowledges Experience Columbus CEO Brian Ross, adding that, "It's to the point where it is a user fee. You only pay if you choose to go to different events."

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