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Workers prepare for Brooks' concerts Monday, June 9, 1997 Amarillo Globe-News. Story by Jeff Rhoads
A crew of construction workers took charge late Tuesday of the field inside Potter County Memorial Stadium, home of the Amarillo Dillas, with the mission of converting the stadium into a concert arena for Garth Brooks' concerts on Friday and Saturday. All in all, it dwarfs the preparations for last year's Beach Boys concert. ``The Beach Boys were like kindergarten,'' said Dave Baur, general manager of the Amarillo Dillas. ``All together (there's about) almost three times as many people than were used to stage the Beach Boys.'' By Wednesday afternoon, a massive platform that will serve as Garth's stage had gone up in the outfield of the stadium. Two men, one standing on top of the other's shoulders, couldn't reach the top of the platform. The stage is ``probably three times the magnitude (of last year's concert), which lends to three times the people who set it up and break it down,'' Baur said. The general manager said the Dillas stopped watering the grass inside the stadium on Monday so that the ground and vegetation will toughen up for the concerts. In areas where floor seats will stand by Friday night, Garth's crew on Wednesday began laying a mesh covering that will let the grass breathe beneath plywood planks. ``When they take everything down Saturday night or Sunday morning, we'll rewater the grass and everything should be fine,'' Baur said. While visiting the stadium on Wednesday, Baur said he was impressed by the professional level and size of Garth's staff. Unlike similar events, where a single tour manager oversaw unskilled staffers who were ``masters of none and jacks of all, now they're masters of all,'' Baur said. By Friday, the stadium will accommodate approximately 2,500 people in the infield and 3,000 in bleachers on the field, in addition to the 7,000 seats in the grandstand, Baur said. Extra parking will be available in the parking lots of the the nearby Tri-State Fairgrounds, Baur said. Parking near the stadium will cost $1, while spots farther away will be free. Asked if he was getting nervous about the concerts, Baur smiled and said, ``Maybe tomorrow.'' ``This is just a big-scope baseball game,'' Baur added. ``It's not a baseball game. It's a concert. It's just twice as many people.'
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