Key West officials need to find a new manager to run the city’s outdoor amphitheater at Truman Waterfront Park, but they may not need to look far.
Rams Head Promotions has operated Key West’s Coffee Butler Amphitheater since it opened in 2019. Its current management contract includes an option for a three-year extension in August, but Rams Head won’t be extending the contract, assistant city manager Mike Turner told the city commissioners in a March 4 email.
“The city is currently exploring options as to how the amphitheater will be managed and will hopefully have a better idea of the future in the coming months,” Turner wrote.
Kyle Carter has an idea.
President and CEO of Oh Wook! Productions, Carter has been producing and promoting multiday music festivals at the amphitheater for nine years. Oh Wook! Productions owns and operates Mile 0 Fest, and formerly produced RokIsland and Key Western Fest, all of which have brought big-name music acts and happy crowds to the amphitheater.
Carter told the city commission three years ago that he wanted to submit a bid for the management contract. But the commission voted in April 2023 to renew Rams Head’s contract for three years.
It’s been three years, and Carter is ready.
“Obviously, we have a keen interest,” he told the Keys Weekly last week. “Rams Head did me the professional courtesy and reached out, knowing we have calendars and dates booked five years in advance. We have nine years and a great deal of investment with the city and we want to grow that relationship. No one else could come in and say they know the city, the amphitheater and the infrastructure like we do. The whole goal is to drive tourism and ensure the amphitheater is usable for the local community. And we know how to fill seats.”
Carter met with commissioner Donie Lee on March 13 and said that Kelly Funkhauser, the city’s special events manager, had contacted him a month or so ago.
“One of my first questions was, what do the rules say? Does the city have to issue a request for proposals? If so, we’ll certainly submit a bid. But now we’re waiting to hear what the city attorney says about the necessary bidding and contracting process.”
Carter also acknowledged the difficulties associated with the entertainment production and promotions industry.
“Rams Head has done an amazing job,” he said. “It’s hard for people who aren’t in this business to comprehend how difficult it is to be sustainable, but we’re committed and we’re ready. It takes time to turn a big boat.”
Turner also acknowledged the industry’s and the amphitheater’s challenges in his March 4 email to the commissioners.
“It did appear to be a slower season than usual for shows, partially due to losses they took on shows the season before, and due to an amphitheater being built in Clearwater. Some of the bands who came the year before optioned for that location,” Turner wrote.
Under the city’s contract with Rams Head, for multiday events, such as music festivals, the city gets 50% of all venue rental fees paid by third-party event producers. For single-day events, the
city gets $5 from every $100 ticket sold; $3 for every $60 ticket; $2 on every $40-$60 ticket and $1 on all tickets under $40.
The city gets no revenue from the sale of food, beverage or merchandise, according to the current contract, which ends in August.
The Coffee Butler Amphitheater opened in 2019 after years of debate and disagreement by multiple city commissions.
“It’s incredible that the city built the venue,” Carter said. “But it’s no secret that there’s been a plan for phased upgrades over the years.”
Some of those upgrades have been on the city’s to-do list for years, including improved restrooms.
City lawmakers will likely seek guidance from the city attorney about the amphitheater management contract at their April 2 meeting.
