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Monday, February 13, 2012 , Updated 5:23 p.m., February 14, 2012
UPDATEDx2: Jimmy Buffett concert moves from Frisco to Dallas this spring
The Frisco venue was called by parrotheads one of the best tailgates of his tour.
Photo by Sarah Blaskovich
Jimmy Buffett tailgating
For the first time in five years, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will not play at Frisco's FC Dallas Stadium (formerly called Pizza Hut Park) this year. The concert will instead be at Gexa Energy Pavilion in Dallas' Fair Park -- near where the State Fair of Texas takes place -- on Thursday, April 19, 2012, according to Live Nation.
The Frisco show was considered by many Buffett fans to be one of the best tailgating concerts of the "Margaritaville" singer's yearly U.S. tour. Thousands of super fans went to the venue more than 24 hours prior to the show, set up RVs or trailers in the parking lot, and created their own beach parties in landlocked Frisco. Many ticketholders stayed in hotels that were walking distance to Pizza Hut Park, and in fact, most hotels were sold out even before the Frisco tour date was announced. See photos of the 2011 and 2010 tailgates in Frisco.
In addition to the venue change, the concert will be on a Thursday instead of a Saturday.
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
- Thu
- Apr
- 19th
- 8PM
- Gexa Energy Pavilion
-
1818 1st Avenue
Dallas, TX - Age limit: All ages $36.50 - $136.50
Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band are traveling on their Welcome to Fin Land Tour. Tickets for the Dallas show go on sale at 10 a.m. February 18. Lawn seats are $36.50 and reserved seats are $136.50.
We've put calls into FC Dallas Stadium, LiveNation, and Jimmy Buffett's camp to find out why the venue changed. We'll update you when we know more.
Jimmy Buffett
UPDATE: Buffett and his band used to play at what's now Gexa Energy Pavilion (formerly Starplex) in the '80s and most of the '90s, said Mike Tabor, general manager at Gexa Energy Pavilion. "We're excited to have them back," he said.
The venue change isn't necessarily permanent; Tabor says future shows at Gexa will be negotiated after the concert.
Like in Frisco, RVs will be allowed in the parking lot for a fee. Lots will open at noon on Thursday at Gexa, and Tabor does not know if vehicles will be allowed overnight. When the concert was in Frisco, fans were allowed to park RVs more than 24 hours before the show and could stay in the lots until the morning after the show.
As for whether a Thursday night show will result in a smaller turnout, Tabor said, "When Buffett comes to town, they consider the weekend theirs. We're expecting a similar environment [as in years' past]."
UPDATE x2: Jimmy Buffett's spokesperson said she had no information and refused to answer questions. An official at FC Dallas Stadium also didn't answer questions and referred us to AEG Live. An official at AEG Live has not returned calls.
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Pop icon Peter Max exhibits paintings at the Crescent Hotel this summer
"humbleness"??????
Um, Mr. Means (reporter), your fourth-grade English teacher is going to smack yo
Lmatx, anonymous:
Very disappointed that he won't be in Frisco this year. It's not a party if they let Rv's in the day of the concert. Plus concert on a Thurs night???? Really? I hope it's a low turnout, I won't be buying my tickets this year and neither are my 40 friends that go with us.
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blake_richardson, anonymous:
This stinks, The Frisco party was great for the last 5 years. I wouldn't want to spend the night in Fair Park.
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islandlife34, anonymous:
Yay! Now we can have the resurrection of "lawn people" back:) I personally hate the Frisco venue, and haven't been in 4 years because no lawn seats were available. Hope this stays a permanent change! Fins up!:)
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nfaltys, anonymous:
Well, that was fun while it lasted. Not a chance I'll be partaking in an RV party at Fair Park. So so lame.
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John McClelland, verified:
Maybe they'll let you all park in the Cotton Bowl. At least that will give it some use.
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Sarah Blaskovich, staff:
Aw.
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richard1211, anonymous:
Finally back where it belongs! It was always on a weeknight when it use to be in Dallas. Only true Parrot-heads go on a weeknight.
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bigdstars, anonymous:
Wonder if the fact that the stadium is about 1.5 miles from the Exide lead smelter that doesn't meet EPA air safety standards and more had anything to do with it?
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me9814, anonymous:
I know about 30 Parrot heads who Will NOT be attending... Starplex, sucks, and on a Thursday night... Turn out the lights... the partys over
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efoley50, anonymous:
The JB experience in Frisco was a more than a concert, it was a total experience that can not be duplicated in Dallas Giving up the RV deposit, will not be reserving hotels or buying tickets. Jimmie, thanks for the memories
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James Scott, verified:
Lol, funny to see all these true fans and "parrot heads" (that apparently don't even know how to spell his name, as evidenced by the previous comment) completely bail out on him.
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Teresa Gubbins, staff:
James Scott, spoken like a true james
i confess, i'm mystified by the outpouring for pizza hut park. jimmy buffett played starplex throughout the '90s, whereas pizza hut park hasn't been around but a few years
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griffith_ta, anonymous:
To all the "True Jimmy Buffett Fans". Everyone has their reasons for going to a show. Some just happen to include tailgating in the parking lot for two days. Gexa so far is not allowing overnight parking and personally I wouldn't want to camp out in that neighborhood. Very sketchy! But don't pull moral high-ground on people who like to party. Jimmy takes a huge cut of the parking too.
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scheves60, anonymous:
Looking forward to this event all year. You have to experience the Jimmy Buffett concert and tailgate to understand why everyone is upset with changing from Frisco to Dallas. Me and the rest of our 50 plus party will not be attending, thus ending a 5 year tradition. Maybe after the low turnout he will head back to Frisco....
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TLS, anonymous:
Oh just go to NASCAR and crank up a Buffett cassette while you're there. Same thing.
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John McClelland, verified:
Bigdstars, maybe the lead balances out the other chemicals they're smoking at a Buffett concert.
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robcov, anonymous:
I too am very disappointed that the tailgate experience of the Buffett concert will be dramatically different from the past five years at Pizza Hut Park. We are buying tickets but will not be gearing up as we have in years past. And our group looks like it's going from 100+ that tailgated together to 8......Bummed.....
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Robert Kelly, verified:
I'll probably go for the first time since it was last at the StarCokeSmirSuperGex-O-plex
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TLS, anonymous:
I love that "StarCokeSmirSuperGex-O-Plex". Good one, R. Kelly!
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Bette, anonymous:
I think Jimmy is dong this to downsize. Perhaps next year he'll go back to clean, safe and spacious Frisco. Hopefully, on a weekend as well.
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dford1576, anonymous:
WHHAAAAA!!!!! All you “So called parrotheads” (Not true parrotheads like me!) can go off and cry and go to nascar for your tailgatting. FC Stadium is a horrible place to watch the show (I am a parrothead who goes to the show, not the rest of the nascar parrotheads who do not even care abourt the show, who come only just to get drunk). Starplex is 100 times better due to you have the lawn and YOU HAVE ROOM to move around and dance etc… unlike that piece of crap venue FC Stadium. FC Stadium is so expensive to park and the parking is horrible. 2 years ago we were stuck with about 10 twenty something year olds girls who were behind us who talked during the entire show and ruined it. Imagine “A Pirate at 40″ with a bunch of idiots who do not care about the show talking the whole time during the song! It was ruined! People around us were mad at the people talking! At Starplex you have the lawn and you can be around whoever you want. For years it was always at Starplex and alot of times on Thursday. The true parrotheads are happy it is back at Starplex! The rest of you nascar parrotheads (who do not even care about the show) can go off and cry and stay home, we do not want you there!! This show is for the true parrotheads!!!!
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(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Sarah Blaskovich, staff:
Spam removed.
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What do you think?