Saratoga Springs

Some people who attended New York City Ballet performances at Saratoga Performing Arts Center this week were unhappy with the condition of the center's lawn and say management needs to correct it.

Ballet enthusiasts at SPAC's American Girl night on Wednesday complained that the hill at SPAC was practically bare of grass. One person emailed pictures of the hill, which he said had turned into a mound of dirt. Mayor Joanne Yepsen said in a statement Thursday that the city was looking into ways to help improve conditions.

"The partnership between the city, state parks and SPAC is critically important to all of us," Yepsen said. "We are ready to explore how the city can help make this more of a positive experience for many of our residents who appreciate and attend classical arts performances."

The ballet's one-week residency at SPAC started on Tuesday, three nights after the jam band Phish completed a three-night stand there.

Some said SPAC management should not have allowed Live Nation, which signs rock acts for the venue, to schedule three Phish shows ahead of the ballet's opening. They said the same thing happened to SPAC's lawn last summer when Phish performed consecutive shows prior to the ballet's arrival.

Louise Goldstein and Andrew Jennings, members of the Save the Victoria Pool Society, said classical arts were being ignored at SPAC in service to Live Nation.

"Having no lawn shows contempt for the classical arts audience," Goldstein and Jennings said in a joint statement.

SPAC President and Executive Director Marcia White said a harsh winter, late spring and recent torrential rains had "taken a toll on our lawn, which we deeply regret."

"As an outdoor venue, one of our greatest assets is our beautiful park setting," White said. "However, this also means that we are vulnerable to the damage that can be caused by the weather, as evidenced by the current condition of SPAC's lawn. However, the exhilarating, world-class performances on our stage and the ambience of the Spa State Park still offer an experience that is second to none."

dyusko@timesunion.com • 518-454-5353 • @DAYusko