Anyone else coming up with plausible reasons why UMASS pulled out of the partnership with the Lowell Spinners to present the Wilco show at LeLacheur? How about...Marty never heard of Wilco...or, the show fell on a tough night...Saturday....or, the ball park is too close to North Campus and too far away from South Campus. Yeah, the concert is still going on, but it appears Spinner's owner Drew Weber continues to get the short end of the stick whether dealing with the city or partnering with UMASS.
In a UMASS press release dated April 16th, Dean of Students, Larry Siegel was quoted as saying "Bringing a top-notch act like Wilco to campus is just one of the ways we work to enrich campus life for our students. The partnership with the Spinners opens up new venues for UMass Lowell to further provide our students with an exciting college experience." Three weeks later UMASS Lowell severed the partnership with the Spinners, spokesperson Patti McCafferty reasoning, "It would be difficult to generate student interest given that it is during the summer when our students are not around." Like they didn't figure that out before? Lame! Lame! Lame!!!
While UMASS plays politics, Drew Weber can hold his head high. Under his leadership, the Spinners have become one of the most successful minor league organizations in the country. They are also one of the most loved, maintaining a very loyal fan base. And while partnerships may be formed and severed, leases negotiated and renegotiated, lasting relationships are much different ...they're built on trust.
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