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New arena operator outlines plans for boxing, youth sports, streaming and concessions in Tunica County
Summary
Chazen Capital, which the county awarded an arena management contract, told the Tunica County Board it has partners lined up for boxing, youth sports and ticketing, plans to bring regular events and streaming partnerships, and introduced an advisory board and concessions vendor.
Saron Crawford, representing Chazen Capital, told the Tunica County Board of Supervisors that her firm has been awarded the county arena contract and plans to expand programming, bring recurring sporting events and book major concerts.
Crawford said partners include Jason Kidd for youth sports initiatives, Eric Davis for youth baseball and multiple boxing promoters and trainers. "Jason Kidd is our partner," she said. She described a ticketing arrangement with a major ticketing company and said a streaming partner had agreed to provide production at no upfront cost and to split pay‑per‑view revenues.
Crawford addressed immediate facility needs, acknowledging dressing‑room shortcomings. She proposed temporarily bringing rental trailers so performers and athletes would have appropriate dressing space while permanent upgrades are completed. On the need for facilities work, she said the team "rolled up our sleeves and got it together" to address problems found on arrival.
She also introduced an advisory board of local and regional figures, including a bank security staff member, a physician identified as Dr. Prescott, a county employee named Pisandra (Presandra) Jones, real estate agent Bartlett Graves, police chief Jalen James and radio owner Raymond Sims. Crawford said the board would help broaden outreach and bring events to the county.
On concessions and merchandise, Crawford said she had secured a long‑time concessions operator (named in the record) and that the vendor has partnerships with major merchandise companies. She said a major January show and an October boxing event were already contracted, and that the first streamed event is expected in October. "I'm serious about that. Record that," she told the board when pressed on delivering results.
Board members asked about marketing, timelines and verification of partner commitments; Crawford said some events were rescheduled because of arena upgrades but that she remained committed and offered to refund money if promised events failed to materialize. The board thanked the presenters and accepted the report. The board later acknowledged keeping two arena employees on county payroll rather than transferring them to the operator.
