Noise no problem for amphitheater neighbors

Deirdre Newman

A “little” loud was the most severe criticism the concerts at Pacific

Amphitheatre evoked from residents living near it.

“I wouldn’t mind if it were a little lower,” said Naynara

Tangeland, who lives on Mendoza Drive. “It’s not that loud, but it’s

kind of annoying.”

This was the first year since 1995 that music blared from the

amphitheater during the Orange County Fair. Officials took extra

measures to make sure the sound didn’t blast the Mesa del Mar

neighborhood whose outrage over the high decibels led to the

amphitheater’s closing.

Officials hired a sound engineer and invested in a high-tech sound

system.

“I think that was an important step for the future use of the

amphitheater to not cut any corners when it came to having a quality,

state-of-the-art sound system in place,” fair President Becky

Bailey-Findley said.

Fair officials only received one music complaint -- on the night

of July 16. That was the night Duran Duran was playing in the

amphitheater and Blue Oyster Cult was rocking the Citizens’ Bank

Arena stage. They assumed the complaint was about the amphitheater

and adjusted the levels, Bailey-Findley said.

Some residents said they didn’t mind the music at all.

“I enjoyed the music,” said Maria Gutierrez, who lives on Presidio

Drive. “It’s no problem for me. I usually go outside to listen.”

The outdoor venue had been closed for eight years pending

resolution of lawsuits concerning noise. Officials spent half a

million dollars renovating the 8,500-seat venue. Revenue for the

amphitheater fell short of breaking even by $765,838. The fair spent

$5.8 million on guest artists and about $400,000 on labor for the

amphitheater.

The acts that played included Steely Dan, Bob Dylan and Alanis

Morissette.

One resident said the noise from the concerts paled in comparison

with other effects of the fair such as traffic.

“The concerts themselves weren’t that bad,” said Helen Cawthon,

who lives on Presidio Dive. “It’s the crowds of people and traffic.

You couldn’t get a parking place in your own front yard. I’m glad

it’s over.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].