IEBA Announces Ruth Eckerd Hall Nominated For 2024 Theatre Of The Year And The BayCare Sound Nominated For 2024 Amphitheater Of The Year
IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association), the leading not-for-profit trade organization for live entertainment industry professionals who buy, book and sell talent, announced today the nomination of Ruth Eckerd Hall for 2024 Theatre of the Year and The BayCare Sound for 2024 Amphitheater of the Year. The winners will be announced at IEBA’s Honors & Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, October 8 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville.
Ruth Eckerd Hall was nominated along with these prestigious venues: ACL Live in Austin, DPAC in Durham, Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, The Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis and the Tennessee Theater in Knoxville.
The BayCare Sound was nominated along with these prestigious amphitheaters: The Gorge Amphitheater in Quincy (Washington), The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, The Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary (North Carolina), The Orion in Huntsville, The Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston and The St. Augustine Amphitheatre in St. Augustine.
“With so many prestigious and successful venues in our industry, to have Ruth Eckerd Hall named a finalist in 2022 and now 2024, is truly an honor.
The fact that The BayCare Sound is now listed among the top six in its inaugural year means the team has been able to transfer the same commitment to excellence to this beautiful new venue. The industry is embracing it just as our community has,” said Susan M. Crockett, Ruth Eckerd Hall President & CEO.
Founded in 1970, by two talent buyers – Hubert Long and Harry “Hap” Pebbles, IEBA provides an unparalleled forum for professional development. IEBA and its annual conference stand alone in in the entertainment business by showcasing a diverse and uniquely crafted lineup of live entertainment and by hosting discussions with the entertainment industry’s leading innovators and decision makers. From two founding members in 1970 to over 2,000 active members in 2024, IEBA’s focus remains the same: strengthen relationships, foster industry growth and increase revenue for the live entertainment industry.
In 2002, 2008 and 2021, Ruth Eckerd Hall was nominated for Theatre of the Year, by industry trade publication Pollstar. In 2020 and 2021, Ruth Eckerd Hall was nominated for Theatre of the Year by The Academy of Country Music. In 2021, Ruth Eckerd Hall was the recipient of the All-Stars Award – Theater and Performing Arts Center by industry trade publication VenuesNow.
In 2023, Pollstar named Ruth Eckerd Hall the #1 venue in Tampa, the #4 venue in Florida, the #9 venue in the United States and #10 in the world of theatre venues with 2,500 seats or less.
In its first 10 months of operation, Pollstar named The BayCare Sound the #9 amphitheater worldwide and #4 amphitheater in the United States by both ticket sales and gross sales.