DOWNEY – Downey’s contract with VenueTech for the management of the Downey Civic Theatre has been extended for 15 months.

The VenueTech contract was originally agreed upon in 2010 for a period of five years, after which the city could extend the agreement by two three-year periods.

Having been extended twice, the contract was set to expire on Dec. 31 this year.

The theatre lost significant revenues over the period of March 2020 to July 2021, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the safety restrictions placed on live entertainment. As such, both parties sought the extension to account for the lost operational time.

The contract extension comes at the tune of $258,443.70. It will now expire on March 31, 2023.

According to staff’s report, there is an anticipated steady and significant demand for live entertainment shows and for the immediate rental of the theatre. The extension would allow for a seamless transition into the “current Los Angeles County reopening climate.”

The Downey City Council approved the extension as part of the consent agenda on a 4-0 vote, with no additional discussion and Mayor Claudia M. Frometa absent.