News video with Tito Gaona
Push to save circus arena heating up
ABC 7 Suncoast News
Posted: April 12, 2010 06:58 PM EDT
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SARASOTA COUNTY - The future of the old circus arena will go before Venice City Commissioners Tuesday. The building where the Ringling Brothers Circus used to train and perform shows is scheduled for demolition. A group is trying to stop it and has collected more than a thousand signatures to state their case.
Tito Gaona swung from the rafters inside the Venice Arena as an acrobat. Now, decades later, he's doing a high wire act trying to save it. In just three weeks he says the Venice Circus Arts Foundation has come a long way. "Tremendous feedback. In Facebook we started with five people; we have 1,500 people now."
"It's been overwhelmingly in support." Downtown business owner David Scherman says they're not clowning around. He says they've collected more than 1,000 signatures to save it. "Almost everybody without exception that I have asked to sign the petition or asked them about the arena is very positive on saving it."
They've also struck a deal with some home improvement chains to spiff up the place. "We are getting paint from both Lowe's and Home Depot. Three dollars and fifty cents a gallon for twenty two dollar a gallon paint," says Scherman.
However, one would think it's going to take a lot more than paint to breathe life back into one of Florida's first tourist attractions. Scherman says that's true, but that the bones there are as strong as ever. "We were in it last week and it's a phenomenal building. It's in incredibly good shape. The structure itself is in flawless condition."
Gaona says there should be no rush, not now with support gathering. "Ten years of being neglected. Why not just one more year?" The foundation says they would like one year to raise money, perhaps get a historical designation on the 50-year-old building, and fix it up.
Tuesday afternoon, Venice city commissioners will decide whether or not to drop the curtain on the former home to the greatest show on Earth. "We are passing on something that is very special. It was the circus and our life, but it isn't that. It's an arena that belongs in Venice and should be preserved. It's all I can say."
The Venice Circus Arts Foundation says the arena can become a sound stage, host events, have a museum, and maybe just see a circus once again.
Tuesday's meeting starts at 1:30pm at Venice City Hall. They're welcoming supporters to show up.