The band selection for the campus-sponsored Badger Blowout Concert usually causes chatter among students, but this year, the size of the venue is smaller than in years past, drawing criticism from the Wisconsin Union Directorate's music director.
The Wisconsin Alumni Student Board officially announced Wednesday that Ben Kweller would be headlining at the Orpheum Theatre April 26 for the All-Campus Party.
The change from the Field House to the Orpheum Theatre—a smaller venue—reduces the number of seats from 4,000 to 1,800.
Wyndham Manning, UW-Madison junior and music director of the Wisconsin Union Directorate, said he sees a potential problem with the venue location and the smaller size.
""It's not on campus and it's like 5 percent of the student population—that isn't representative at all of the student body,"" he said.
Manning said the success of last year's performance by hip-hop artist Common was in part because of the Field House's size.
""On the flip side of that, it's going to be a pretty intimate environment,"" said Cole Stockheimer, WASB's head of the ACP concert.
Due to conflicting agendas, WASB and the Athletic Department were not able to make a deal for the concert to be held at the Field House this year, but WASB members are hopeful it will work in the years to come.
""In future years, we're definitely looking to move it back to the Field House and [eventually] the Kohl Center,"" said Ben Fiechtner, co-chair of ACP.
""We want it to be an all campus party, that's why we keep pushing for it to grow every year,"" she said.
Fiechtner added WASB considered hosting the event at the Memorial Union Terrace to encompass more students, but weather became a significant factor and the organization decided against it.
Manning said that historically, WUD helps WASB find bands for the ACP. However, this year, conflicts in scheduling prevented the collaboration and WASB worked with Frank Productions instead.
The two organizations are currently working together to distribute tickets and find opening bands, despite WASB working with the new company.
Tickets for the Badger Blowout Concert will be available April 18 on a first-come-first-serve basis. Students must present a valid UW-Madison ID.
