Changes

The final performance at the Saenger before it closed for renovations was "Get Back! Cast of [[Wikipedia:Beatlemania|Beatlemania]]" on [[June 30]]. At the time, a ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' article disclosed that only about $8.75 million had been raised, and that about $900,000 expected from state grants had fallen through in the Florida Legislature.<ref>"Saenger has last hurrah before renovations." ''Pensacola News Journal,'' June 30, 2007.</ref> Once final estimates are received from Atlanta-based contractor [[Turner Construction Company]], which also built the [[Escambia County Government Center]], the redevelopment committee will determine which of the planned renovations will need to be cut.

Due to the inability to get the construction costs under $15 million, the City of Pensacola dismissed Turner Construction Company as the Construction Manager at Risk and voted to put the project out for bid for the lowest responsible bidder. Dooley Mack Construction of Sarasota, Florida was the low bidder at $12.6 million dollars and was awarded the contract for the Saenger project. They received their notice to proceed on February 11, 2008.  The theater is planned to reopen in Fall early [[20082009]]. Many performing arts groups that use the Saenger as their primary venue have found alternative sites for the 2007-08 season. For example, the [[Pensacola Symphony Orchestra]] will hold its "Masterworks" concerts at [[First Baptist Church]].