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May 30, 2008

New Civic Center manager will pursue large acts, events

By Cathy Spaulding

As new manager for the Muskogee Civic Center, Cassandra Gaines said she plans to step up efforts to get more large acts and events into Muskogee.

“I’ll have to be more creative,” she said, adding that the newly-renovated Civic Center must compete with Indian casinos for big acts.

Gaines, who has worked for the city of Muskogee for 10 years, was named Civic Center manager May 19. She most recently has been the city’s director of multicultural activities and manager of the Roxy Theater. Gaines said she will continue those positions.

Before working for the city, Gaines was a concert promoter.

Muskogee City Manager Greg Buckley said Gaines’ background will serve the Civic Center well.

“Cassandra has the skills and capabilities of doing a wonderful job,” he said. “The community will support her and help make the Civic Center a showplace for the community.”

Gaines said she plans to use such experience to attract events at the Civic Center, which seats up to 3,643 in its arena.

“I want to get more promoters passing through to stay in Muskogee,” she said.

For example, “I have friends of mine who are going to Loretta Lynn’s birthday party soon,” she said. “And I’ll be leaving here June 9 to get an event for 2009 from Little Rock.”

She said she could not reveal the identity of the event.

Gaines said she plans to keep major Civic Center attractions such as the annual Bedouin Shrine Classic basketball tournament. The tournament attracts more than 15 area basketball teams each January and is considered one of the largest annual events in Muskogee.

Other major events at the Civic Center include the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony and concert and the Exchange Club Chili Cook-off held each April.

Gaines has been actively involved in tourism in the northeastern Oklahoma region since 1982. Gaines is known throughout the United States for the Oklahoma Historical Black Town Tour.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email

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