It all began several months ago when Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer nominated the Coliseum for Jason Brown’s Along the Way Tour. Since that time, Brown and Parks and Rec Supervisor Jenni Hart, plus city officials, have worked to bring the concert to fruition.

The goal of the concert was to raise at least $150,000 to $200,000 toward the $1.35 million Coliseum rebuilding effort, with renovations expected to cost $3.6 million.

The Community Foundation of Marshall County has pledged $100,000 to support the rebuilding campaign and the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation has dedicated a sum of $400,000 in a matching grant to the efforts.

“It was a no brainer,” Brown said of coming to Marshalltown. “I was given a talent and I feel like using it to help in any way I possibly can. It is my purpose.”

T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ
People of all ages came out to attend the concert, which featured performances by Cold Pizza, Neil Hewitt, headliner Jason Brown and Exit 185. Funds raised go to renovate the tornado-damaged Coliseum.

The concert kicked off with music by area musicians. Cold Pizza was followed by Neil Hewitt, then headliner Brown. Exit 185 provided late night music.

“We wanted to get other artists and people with talents. It’s music on a mission or talent on a mission if you will. It is the largest show we’ve done to date,” Brown said.

City Administrator Jessica Kinser said the concert will go a long way towards raising funds.

“We were hoping that private contributions would lead the way (for fundraising), then this opportunity to hold a concert came our way,” Kinser said in a previous interview with the T-R.

Vic Hellberg helped organize the ticket booths.

“We got a lot of faces I didn’t know were even in Marshalltown,” Hellberg said. “It is nice to see people. They were anxious to come in (the gates).”

In addition to this concert, Brown’s Along the Way Tour has raised funds for the American Legion Community Center in Radcliffe and The Humota Movie Theatre in Humboldt.

“We like to celebrate family, God and workers and just community (in the music),” Brown said.

Brown has charted five songs on the Billboard and MediaBase Country Charts such as “Momma Was A Rebel,” “Touchdown,””I’d Love You To Hate Me,” “You Don’t Play Fair” and “We’re All In The Same Boat.”

The nearly 90-year-old Coliseum was constructed as a tribute to Marshalltown residents who had fought in and/or lost their lives in the Civil War, Spanish War and World War I. It has provided space for countless functions for the community over the years. During the July 2018 tornado, 45 children and counselors at the summer day camp were inside the building when the tornado tore through the city, and ripped the roof off the structure. The Coliseum in its present state is not suitable for activities, but it has been declared structurally sound. Hart said the Coliseum had been crucial for Parks and Rec. programming. Some of those programs have been displaced as a result.

Donations are still being accepted at www.marshalltown-ia.gov/673/Veterans-Memorial-Coliseum-Fundraising-C or mail a check to Veterans Memorial Coliseum Fund, 24 N. Center St., Marshalltown, Iowa 50158.