In the past week, both Tool and WWE Raw were at Hilton Coliseum.

Over the past year, there have been many complaints about the Iowa State Center and the acts it has brought in – namely, whether or not the center is worried about catering to college students in a college town. Sting, Tina Turner and The Eagles are, arguably, suited to an older crowd.

But, both Tool and WWE Raw, suited to a college niche, didn’t garner a huge crowd. There were actually many seats left unoccupied.

From the Iowa State Center’s perspective, when it comes to booking, it’s a matter of supply and demand. It’s a business. It has to make a profit to survive.

How can the Iowa State Center cater to a group of students who don’t adequately support the shows it does snag for a younger crowd?

Students need support the concerts that do come in so that the Iowa State Center so it can continue to book the big-name acts that will silence any dissenters. But students shouldn’t complain unless they’re willing to get out and do something about it.

There was probably a fair number of students that attended Tina Turner, and will attend Cher and Cyndi Lauper when they’re here in a few weeks.

Another argument is that not all the musical bases are covered in the acts they do bring in. Why doesn’t the Iowa State Center bring in many rap artists?

Again, supply and demand.

Perhaps there just aren’t enough bodies to fill the seats, hence, a large loss on an act that was booked just to keep everyone happy.

The fact of the matter is, the Iowa State Center can’t make everyone happy.

The employees do the best they can under the circumstances, but Ames is also a secondary touring market. A lot of big name acts will visit Midwest staples like Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City long before they will consider Ames.

Perhaps Ames isn’t a staple on the touring market because there just aren’t enough supporters attending the shows.

Before blaming the Iowa State Center for attracting entertainment that may not appeal to college students, consider the acts the community is willing to support.

Editorial Board: Cavan Reagan, Erin Randolph, Rachel Faber Machacha, Charlie Weaver, Zach Calef, Ayrel Clark.