The Woodlands, Texas – Tonight’s reopening of The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion featuring the Dave Matthews Band, the official start of the venue’s 20th season, is due in large part to generous contributions from local businesses and organizations such as Devon Energy. With capacity crowds expected tonight and at Sunday’s Kenny Chesney concert, this is a momentous weekend for the premier music venue.
When Hurricane Ike hit the Texas Gulf Coast in September, The Pavilion suffered catastrophic damage to its fabric roof and support structure over the reserved seating area. Structural engineers determined that the venue could not be used for public gatherings until the roof system and its steel supports were repaired. Other damage to the venue included the stage house and its roof panels, the event tent, lawn concession stands and erosion.
Forced to cancel the last 10 shows of the season, Pavilion management and its Board of Directors decided to rebuild the venue, making much needed improvements. The $9.5 million renovation included construction of approximately 2,000 new reserved seats and a larger canopy structure to cover all 6,387 seats. Lawn capacity is now 9,653, giving The Pavilion a total capacity of 16,040.
Devon donated $250,000 to The Pavilion to help with the restoration of the venue following destruction from Hurricane Ike. The contribution from the natural gas and oil producer is part of the company’s $2 million commitment to hurricane restoration in the Houston area.
“The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is an integral part of the community,” said Joe Ash, senior vice president of Devon’s International Division. “In addition to providing world-class entertainment, The Pavilion also focuses on educational programs for youth and brings tremendous economic benefits to the area. We are honored to join George Mitchell and others to contribute to the venue’s restoration.”
Devon is the nation’s largest independent natural gas and oil producer, as well as the largest natural gas producer in Texas. The company employs more than 1,300 people in Houston and invests in initiatives that focus on youth and education, as well as environment and civic causes.
Internationally acclaimed architect Horst Berger, designer of the original structure, designed the new tensile fabric canopy making The Pavilion even more beautiful than before.
For more information about Devon, visit www.devonenergy.com. For additional information about The Pavilion, visit www.woodlandscenter.org.
Photo by Ted Washington
Devon Energy recently donated $250,000 to The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion to benefit the restoration of The Pavilion following destruction from Hurricane Ike. Devon is proud to be part of bringing The Pavilion back, bigger and better. Pictured, left to right, are: Margaret Hitchcock, manager of public and community affairs for Devon; George Mitchell, founder of The Woodlands; Lori Parr, senior community affairs coordinator for Devon; Joe Ash, senior vice president of Devon’s International Division; and Jerry MacDonald, president and CEO of The Pavilion.
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Celebrating its 20th season in 2009, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is part of The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides diverse, high-quality performing arts events for the entertainment and enrichment of a broad regional audience. Through numerous educational and community outreach programs, The Center is a catalyst for attracting new audiences to the performing arts and building strong ties between the arts and educational institutions. |
