TempleLive to comply with cease and desist order with May 15 concert against our will'

LITTLE ROCK (TB&P) — Lance Beaty has decided to comply with Arkansas’ cease and desist order mandating he cancel a concert Friday at his TempleLive venue in downtown Fort Smith. The Travis McCready concert is set three days before a May 18 date that allows events in indoor venues.

Beaty, owner of Beaty Capital Group which owns and manages TempleLive, had said the state’s decision was based on politics and power and not science. During at 1 p.m. Thursday press conference, TempleLive spokesman Mike Brown said the concert would be moved to May 18 “against our will.”

Even before Beaty announced a decision, officials with the Alcoholic Beverage Control arrived Thursday morning at TempleLive to seek “summary suspension” of Beaty’s liquor license. The printed order from ABC noted “that emergency action is required. The business is not operating in the public interest and poses a danger to the public’s health, safety, and welfare.” The order established a 2 p.m. meeting, June 3 in Little Rock to determine if the license should be fully revoked.

“Should Temple Live provide public confirmation that the concert scheduled for May 15 will not proceed, the permit will be returned,” Scott Hardin, ABC spokesman, told Talk Business & Politics prior to the TempleLive 1 p.m. announcement.

Brown commented on the action taken by ABC saying, “So basically we’ve been punished about thinking about doing something or considering while we’re evaluating it. It’s very Minority Report and Westworld which I thought were pieces of fiction.”

However, TempleLive isn't done fighting. John Scott, legal council for the venue, said taking legal action against the state isn't off the table.

“We are considering those options. I just think to pick that fight and make that threat right now is premature. If the state wanted to reach out and say you hold this event Friday as planned and we can work out a deal, that would probably tie it up in a bow in a box," he said.

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