Staples pact ends spat

Concert presenters to jointly book, promote, market shows

By PHIL GALLO

Anschutz Entertainment Group's Concerts West and Nederlander Concerts have been jointly granted the exclusive rights to book and promote concerts at Staples Center and assist L.A. Arena Co. in nabbing national touring concerts at the Forum.

Arrangement resolves a dispute that flared up between the two concert promoters in July. AEG filed a lawsuit to terminate Nederlander's exclusive rights agreement with Staples Center; Nederlander then filed a complaint with the American Arbitration Assn. to settle the matter.

The new arrangement allows the two concert presenters to jointly book, promote and market live entertainment at both venues. No other terms and conditions of the settlement were disclosed. Their first announced joint venture is a Fleetwood Mac concert at Staples on July 11.

Locally, Nederlander exclusively books the Greek Theater and the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim; Concerts West has exclusive rights to the Kodak Theater. "We are pleased that this settlement will continue that relationship," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG.

"(We) look forward to programming (Staples) with Concerts West in the future," said James L. Nederlander Jr., president of Nederlander Concerts.