by David Hill
Editor
What spectators experienced in Thief River Falls last week may very well be the start of a more frequent activity.
In conjunction with Wojo’s Finals Rodeo Oct. 5-7, Aarestad Entertainment presented a music concert featuring Academy of Country Music nominee and Mercury Recording artist Priscilla Block, along with Jake McVey. There may be more events like this in the near future.
Jason Aarestad of Thief River Falls, who organized the entertainment last week, said he’d organized music events as a fundraiser for Annie Park in Thief River Falls – one in 2014 and another in 2015, and kind of got bit by the entertainment business bug. He also organized a show for the Erskine Water Carnival and then a couple of other fundraisers. He then bought into a record label. Unfortunately, that happened right before the pandemic.
Aarestad said he’d always had in the back of his mind bringing shows to Thief River Falls.
Is the Ralph Engelstad Arena underutilized? Aarestad said yes and no. For hockey fans, it’s not. It is, after all, a hockey arena, and used for such. For others, who don’t see what happens behind the scenes or aren’t hockey fans, it seems to sit empty.
Aarestad said that after Wojo’s Rodeo Finals in Thief River Falls last year he talked with owners of the rodeo, Keith and Dana Wojciechowski. After that discussion, he began working on bringing a music act to Thief River Falls.
A year in the making, about 2000 spectators were able to enjoy a performance by Priscilla Block and Jake McVey last week. It was above what Aarestad anticipated, and there’s room for growth.
What people didn’t see, said Aarestad, was all the work that took place behind the scenes. He brought in a structural engineer, fire marshal, fire department representatives, and created a security team just to make sure it could be done. Even then, there were a thousand other minor and not-so-minor details to arrange. He’s justifiably proud of what was accomplished.
Aarestad said he wanted to do it right. A good first impression is very important. He said it would serve as proof that it could be done in Thief River Falls, and from a business perspective, it was important to do it well.
Aarestad said he has had a relationship with R.J. Romeo, an entertainment industry veteran, attorney and entrepreneur. Aarestad said Romeo said the security detail at the event was the best he’d seen.
Aarestad said his team included eight students from Northland Community and Technical College’s criminal justice program, and two licensed officers. He thought it was great experience for the students, and they did a great job.
David Lovly, criminal justice law enforcement coordinator at Northland in Thief River Falls, said he thought it was a great experience for the students who volunteered to participate as part of the security team. It was not part of the curriculum for the students. Each of the students who volunteered were second year students in the skills training portion of their training. Law enforcement students must have the skills training to be licensed peace officers.
From Lovly’s perspective it was a great experience because it provided students with interpersonal skills experience. He said the students told him that from their perspective it was a great opportunity and one they’d do again.
Lovly said the only issues student encountered were addressing fans in front of the stage who were on top of the shoulders of other fans. A couple of other students were involved in checking bags carried in by fans.
Ticket sales were managed through VenuWorks and Ticketmaster. Aarestad said sales seemed to go well.
From Aarestad’s perspective, a show like this doesn’t have a lot to do with him; rather, it’s all about the community.
Such shows are great for business. Aarestad said he heard from one businessman who said the day of the show was one of the best days he’s had.
Aarestad said spectators came from throughout the region, some even from the Twin Cities. These spectators purchase food, fuel and stay at local motels.
Aarestad is excited about the potential for the community. He said he’s already working on bringing another show to Thief River Falls on Jan. 18. Watch for details soon, Aarestad said.