Condition of SPAC's lawn irks ballet fans

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

Ballet fans attending performances at a popular upstate New York concert venue aren’t happy with the condition of the amphitheater’s lawn.

The New York City Ballet’s one-week summer residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center began on Tuesday, three days after the jam band Phish wrapped up a three-day stint at the venue.

Heavy rain preceded the band’s opening performance, and by the time the last show ended late Saturday night SPAC’s sloping lawn was mostly down to bare dirt.

Only a few grassy patches survived for this week’s dance performances, which wrap up Saturday night with SPAC’s annual ballet gala. Some ballet fans say SPAC shouldn’t schedule rock concerts just before the ballet arrives.

SPAC officials blame the lawn’s condition on the harsh winter, late spring and recent torrential rains.