Casey Wells, the longtime Executive Director of the Erie County Convention Center Authority known as Erie Events, told Joel Natalie on TalkErie.com yesterday, that he has been working on upgrades for the Warner Theater since the mid-1990’s.
In the upcoming fourth and final phase, the scope of work includes expanding the stage by twenty-five feet, adding loading docks, dressing rooms, rehearsal space and more. In order to accomplish all this work, Wells said the Warner will have to shutdown.
“We save $3-4 million by changing the schedule and just closing for a straight 16-17 months. We look to relocate move the Philharmonic to the (Erie Insurance) Arena. We have other facilities. The other events will look to move to the Convention Center and/or a scaled-down version of the Arena while the Warner gets done,” Wells said.
