LSU’s annual free concert is moving off campus for the second year in a row, and the newly named “Groovin’” is set for April 17.
Student Government Director of Programming Taylor Stewart said the event would remain free to students and the public. Having the concert at the Baton Rouge River Center Arena is more economical, less of a hassle and more convenient for the artists, she said.
“It’s not a permanent move,” Stewart said. “It can be changed in the future.”
Groovin’ on the Grounds took place on LSU Parade Grounds each year for decades. Last year’s concert, with Weezer as headliner, moved to the River Center as a backup location after rain storms soaked the Parade Ground.
Students complained about the location change last year because of the inconvenience of taking shuttles and finding parking.
Students on Target member Zachary Dupuis said the River Center will be a safer location for students. A stabbing occurred following a fight between two non-LSU students during the 2013 concert when rappers Yelawolf and Lupe Fiasco performed.
Dupuis also mentioned how stressful it was to find a new location last year when SG learned the weather would be too bad for the outdoor concert.
“I think everyone liked it because it was more of a concert feel,” Dupuis said. “We want to be able to find out how many students go this year. Last year, since it was so last minute, we weren’t able to know how many students there were.”
The River Center was designed for concerts, Stewart said. Holding the concert on campus requires more production costs to get equipment to the parade ground. Also, SG formed a good relationship with the River Center after the last minute move in 2014.
The River Center Arena boasts 10,400 seats, and 1,500 of them are removable, according to its website. The venue also offers eight dressing rooms, two box offices and approximately 30,000 square feet of column free floor space.
Dupuis said Students on Target will give students a chance to win VIP access as a way to promote its philanthropy, Jovial Art, which helps children with no after school programs. Some students received wristbands to access the standing floor area of the River Center last year.
This year, Students on Target, the student government programming committee hosting “Groovin’,” is considering using card swipes for entry.
The Director of Programming determines the location of the event each year, Stewart said. Changing the name of the concert will give the future directors more flexibility in location choices.
“We decided to change the name from Groovin’ on the Grounds to just “Groovin’” because the grounds is associated with the parade grounds,” Stewart said. “Potentially one day it could be in Tiger Stadium, it could be on the parade grounds or at the River Center.”
SG has about $170,000 to $200,000 allotted for Groovin’, but Stewart said the total has not been finalized. About $7 of student fees go to Groovin’ each year.
This year’s lineup will be announced on April 1.
“It turns out having it at the River Center is much cheaper than having it at LSU, and the people at the River Center are handling security, it’s more value for our price and it’s safer for students.”
