A new lawsuit accuses San Antonio’s Stable Hall of firing a longtime operator of Texas music venues from its role of operating the top-tier concert facility so a family friend of the Pearl’s billionaire founder could take over instead.
In documents filed Monday in Bexar County District Court, Dallas-based Wood Hall LLC argues Stable Hall’s owning entity last October illegally terminated its contract run the 1,000-seat venue and subsequently gave those duties to Jayson Adams, the son of a friend of billionaire Christopher “Kit” Goldsbury.
The filing maintains that defendant Stable Hall LLC’s actions cut Wood Hall out of an ownership stake in the venture while failing to give the North Texas company 30 days’ notice and an “opportunity to cure” any deficiency in its work, as required under contract.
The suit also names Soap Creek Entertainment LLC as a second defendant, arguing the Austin-based business continued booking talent at Stable Hall after Wood Hall’s termination — another contract violation.
Wood Hall is seeking a jury trial and more than $1 million in damages, according to its petition, which was first reported on by the Express-News.
Officials with Silver Ventures, the Pearl’s principal developer, declined to be interviewed for this story. However, the company’s Potluck Hospitality LLC affiliate, which oversees Stable Hall, issued a written statement.
“Recently, Potluck Hospitality made a strategic management change that aligns with our vision for growth and bringing exceptional music experiences back to San Antonio,” Ryan Howard, Potluck’s managing director, said via email. “Stable Hall is committed to delivering live music entertainment to our community. We look forward to sharing more about our upcoming initiatives and events in the near future.”
Officials with Soap Creek were unavailable for comment before publication time, and the Current also was unable to reach Ricardo Cedillo, the San Antonio attorney representing Wood Hall.
In its suit, Wood Hall said it approached the Pearl’s management in 2019 about helping set up a music venue at the growing north-of-downtown development. Wood Hall has 30 years’ experience setting up venues and events, ranging from Dallas’ venerable Trees and Gypsy Tea Room to Tennessee’s decade-old Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival.
Pearl officials eventually scrapped plans for a biergarten and arcade that Wood Hall also proposed for the site, however the Dallas company argues in its court filing that it was deeply involved in the three-year process of launching Stable Hall.
Indeed, Wood Hall owner Brandt Wood appeared so integrated in the venue’s early operations that he provided VIP and media tours during its January 2024 launch. In those walkthroughs, he showed off state-of-the-art sound systems, luxurious backstage accommodations and high-end artistic embellishments, which he said stemmed from company’s extensive understanding of the concert business.
“Wood Hall named the Venue ‘Stable Hall’, co-designed and co-developed the Venue throughout the entire pre-construction and construction process, and attended and contributed to all meetings during the building process,” the suit states. “Wood Hall also recruited, hired, and managed all personnel, vendors, and contractors related to the operations of the Venue.”
The petition alleges Wood Hall and Silver Ventures’ Potluck affiliate engaged in “years of negotiations” before reaching a Sept. 29, 2023, agreement that created Stable Hall LLC. Under the pact, Wood Hall received a 10% stake in the company and had chance to contribute “time and knowledge and experience” to up its share to 20%, according to the suit’s allegations.
Further, Wood Hall maintains that it struck a separate agreement with Soap Creek to let the Austin-based talent buyer book music at Stable Hall. Under that deal, Soap Creek agreed to cease working for the venue if Wood Hall no longer operated it, according to the court petition.
The lawsuit argues that Potluck spent years stringing along Wood Hall owner Wood and his business partner Erick Schlather before kicking them to the curb without explaining why their contract was terminated.
“After they had taken everything they could from Wood, Schlather, and Wood Hall, Potluck and its Pearl affiliates then orchestrated a timed and intentional breach of the Management Agreement by causing Stable Hall to unilaterally terminate Wood Hall without any notice or opportunity to cure,” the court documents state.
The suit’s filing comes three months after Stable Hall’s original general manager — San Antonio music scene veteran Libby Day — revealed her abrupt departure via a social media post. Day’s exodus left some Alamo City musicians wondering whether they’ll continue to see the same level of bookings at the venue.
“Our commitment to San Antonio’s vibrant music scene remains unwavering, and we’re dedicated to providing a world-class venue for homegrown talent alongside national artists,” Stable Hall officials told the Current in a statement released last December.
Even so, some performers said they saw Day as the catalyst behind the concert hall booking up-and-coming San Antonio bands alongside established touring acts.
“She’s literally the best in town,” Roberto Livar, frontman of Bombasta, told the Current at the time. His barrio big-band was one of the first local groups to play the hall.
Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter| Or sign up for our RSS Feed
Related Stories
Stable Hall’s general manager is gone, prompting concerns about its focus on San Antonio acts
San Antonio’s Pearl complex scraps biergarten plans for upcoming Stable Hall music venue
San Antonio’s Stable Hall putting together street team to distribute posters for cash and concert tickets
Jonas Brothers’ 20th-anniversary tour to stop in San Antonio next fall
Live Music in San Antonio This Week: Daryl Hall, Glenn Tilbrook, Jeffrey Silverstein, Actors
This article appears in Mar 19 – Apr 1, 2025.