Apr 09, 2009
By CASSAUNDRA BABER
Observer-Dispatch

UTICA — The Utica Memorial Auditorium may be on a winning streak — not unlike the last sports team to play there.

The New Hartford Spartans ice hockey team won the Division II State Championship, and the Aud sold out the last three major events booked there in the past month or so — the Feb. 27 Disturbed and Sevendust show; the March 20 Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold and Papa Roach performance and the Monster Truck ThunderSlam on March 27 and 28.

The two hard rock shows alone brought in about 11,000 fans total, said general manager Will Berkheiser. And that’s despite Utica’s distance from New York City or other urban population centers.

But promoters, fans and Aud staff aren’t surprised, and say the trend is likely to continue.“A lot of times, we have promoters fighting for days and dates” for their bands, Berkheiser said.That’s as much due to band scheduling as it is to the venue’s popularity.

Read The Entire article and check out what fans have to say HERE: http://www.uticaod.com/lifestyles/fusion/x1579120947/Aud-on-winning-streak