Moose, Managing Partner at Marauder in New York City and Gary Witt, executive director of Pabst Theater Group in Milwaukee[4] in the wake of COVID-19's devastating effect on the live entertainment industry.
[14] Following a legal battle, protests from local music fans, and attention to the situation from former Minneapolis Mayor and long time First Avenue concert attendee R.T. Rybak, the case was resolved (the judge presiding in the bankruptcy case noted, "I gather there is some urgency about this"), and the club was reopened by new partners including former First Avenue concert promoters, talent buyers, and general managers, Jack Meyers and Steve McClellan along with Byron Frank,[14] with shows resuming after one week's closure.
In 2009 Byron Frank experienced a stroke leading him to call his two daughters and inform them that he intended to sell First Avenue to Live Nation or another deep-pocketed corporation if neither of them were willing to take over.
Largely leaving the venue the same, the First Avenue team updated the speaker systems and renovated the bathrooms while keeping the core of the building as it was at the point of purchase.
I'm confident the future of the Turf Club is absolutely safe in their hands.”[18] March 10, 2017 the Palace Theatre hosted the first concert with First Avenue Productions co-managing and co-operating with the City of Saint Paul.
Frank and First Avenue Productions worked with the city leaders to oversee a $14.7 million renovation converting the building from a shuttered movie theater to a 2,800 capacity venue featuring contemporary music and events.
"We’re incredibly excited to add the Fine Line to the First Avenue family, and really — more importantly — to keep this local venue independently owned and operated," said owner Frank in a press release.
"[27] NIVA immediately went to work to become the team that organized lobbying and grassroots efforts to pass the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act, which became the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant Program, that was signed into law as part of the second COVID-19 Relief Bill on December 27, 2020.
[29] On June 18, 2020, 600 artists, including Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters, Mavis Staples, Lady Gaga, André 3000, Coldplay, Willie Nelson, Billie Ellish, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Miranda Lambert, Billy Joel, Earth Wind & Fire, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Wyclef Jean, Bon Iver, Jay Leno, Tiffany Haddish, Jeff Foxworthy, Jerry Seinfeld, and Tig Notaro, issued a letter to Congress asking legislators to provide financial support for independent venues and promoters.
[31] Stars ranging from Billie Eilish to Dave Matthews and 33 others performed live stream sets from 25 independent venues across America hosted by Reggie Watts to raise $1.8 million for NIVA's efforts.
As I worked to pass the Save Our Stages Act, Dayna Frank was a crucial partner in fighting to ensure independent venues could stay afloat, including our beloved First Avenue,” Klobuchar said in a statement.
This crucial emergency funding helped us persevere through an incredibly trying time, and now I am proud to say First Avenue is open for business and serving the community we love, bringing back jobs, and welcoming fans by the tens of thousands.”[33] Frank is a Reform Jew.