Bill Edwards, CEO of Big 3 Entertainment, appeared before the St. Petersburg City Council Thursday, requesting an extension and modification to the company’s management agreement for the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater, which Big 3 has overseen since 2011.

The theater, originally built in 1965, underwent renovations in 1987 – when it was renamed the Mahaffey – and again in 2005. But after sustaining significant damage from back-to-back hurricanes last year, Edwards told council members that urgent repairs are needed.

The orchestra pit was flooded with 10 feet of water; the sound system direly needs replacing, he said. The state of the current sound systems has cost the theater bookings. Prospective acts know rent or bring their own sound equipment, so many bypass performing at the Mahaffey. The theater has been closed for weeks for the repairs. All the while, Edwards must maintain payroll.

With Big 3’s management contract set to expire in September 2026, he said the uncertainty of a looming Request for Proposals (RFP) puts both him and the theater in a difficult position.

“It’s been 20 years since the city put any money into [the theater],” Edwards said, underscoring his hesitation to commit additional resources without assurances of contract stability.

Edwards said he has already poured $12 million of his own funds into improving the Mahaffey. On average, the venue draws 200,000 attendees annually and is recognized for its popular, diverse and accessible programming, as well as its kids program, Class Acts. Now 20 years since the last major work, Edwards is seeking city budget support for necessary facility upgrades, particularly in light of storm-related damages.

Chamber President and CEO Chris Steinocher spoke during the open forum ahead of Edwards’ request, stating: “We need the private sector. That’s where the jobs come from … we need to take care of these businesses.”

The request sparked discussion among council members. Some raised the possibility of issuing a new RFP, which would open theater management to competing bids for the first time since 2010, just before Edwards took over. City administrator Rob Gerdes, when asked by Council Member Brandi Gabbard, confirmed the administration believes the time is right to look at proposals.

Former council member Robert Blackmon spoke to the dais from the podium, warning against waiting too long to allocate funds to the theater, drawing parallels to the city’s Manhattan Casino, which has sat unused for half a decade. “We need to put money in the Mahaffey now before it’s too late,” Blackmon urged.

While Council weighs its options, a one-year extension would act as a stopgap measure while city leaders evaluate the long-term relationship with Big 3 and the theater’s future. That move would provide a little breathing room, but leaves open the possibility of a competitive bidding process ahead of the 2026 expiration date.

Gabbard pushed for a longer extension than the one-year term proposed, arguing that a single year doesn’t provide enough time, especially when the majority of that time will be spent doing the work of the upgrades.

Gabbard was joined by Council Member Lisset Hanewicz, who cautioned that investing now is cheaper than restarting with a new management firm through an RFP process or risk losing a management company altogether.

Council Chair Copley Gerdes reaffirmed support for the theater, noting simply, “We believe in the Mahaffey.”