Philip Anschutz' group, in an alliance with House of Blues, was the sole bidder for the bankrupt entertainment venue, which has continued to operate as its owner searched for a replacement operator. The US Bankruptcy Court of Dallas yesterday signed off on the Anschutz plan.

Houston-based Linbeck Construction, principal of NextStage Entertainment, filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy within six months of delivering the $65-million NextStage, owned by the city of Grand Prairie. The Anschutz takeover is considered a done deal in the area although Grand Prairie Council must still formally approve the lease assumption. That is not perceived to be a problem since the only other options are for the municipality to run the operation or let it go dark, neither a likely event at this stage. Published accounts say Anschutz is to pay $200,000 to Grand Prairie for the operator's rights and assume lease payments, which jump to nearly $1 million annually in 2003.