TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A new study released by Florida State University says Cascades Park and infrastructure projects are costing taxpayers more money than expected.
The DeVoe Moore Center at Florida State says welcoming artists to the Capital City Amphitheater since it opened in 2014 is causing the Leon County Division of Tourism to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Tourism leaders say the goal was never to make money off the concert venue at Cascades Park.
Instead, it was built as a community investment, not only to attract visitors, but to get locals out to restaurants and shops to put their money back into the local economy.
"It is not designed to bring profit into Leon County," said Kerri Post, Leon County Division of Tourism Director. "The goal is to activate the park, have it be a motivator for travel, for the community and residents to enjoy it and bringing the economic impact of these concerts and of these events to the community."
Post says the amphitheater has a limited budget and everything made off one concert is used to bring in acts and musicians for the next one.
All the money is put back into attracting people to Tallahassee for upcoming events.
The amphitheater is also used by groups and organizations in the community year-round.
