RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — One thing about people in the Richmond — they love live music. The Belle Isle and Tredegar area views of the James River are already beautiful, but picture those sights with your favorite music ringing out live.
On Wednesday, Jan. 24, developers and city leaders — like Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney — broke ground on a Riverfront Amphitheater to bring more major performers to the Richmond community.
Many have heard of Colorado’s iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater.
“It’s world famous,” Mayor Stoney said. “I think the Riverfront Amphitheater has the potential to be the same thing right here on the East Coast.”
Richmond’s Riverfront Amphitheater was first conceptualized years ago.
“I was told there was an idea — a dream of the building of the amphitheater here along the river,” Mayor Stoney said.
The project had faced obstacles like battling a year-long delay. However, at a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, hard hats were finally on and shovels began to dig in.
One attendee, LiveNation’s Kelly Flanigan, spends a lot of time in Richmond and reflected on the Richmond Coliseum, which was closed in 2019.
“Ever since [the Richmond Coliseum] closed, we haven’t really had the opportunity to bring in the talent that requires big stages, big sounds,” Flanigan said.
The Riverfront Amphitheater will feature local vendors and Richmond’s glittering skyline in the background, with a venue that can host 7,500 music-lovers. It is projected to create 300 jobs and expected to bring in more than 30 million dollars from concert-goers a year.
“This is a jewel right here,” Mayor Stoney said about the city’s plan for a riverfront amphitheater. “We want everybody, not just in the city, but all across the East Coast in America, to enjoy it.”
Organizers said the site will host approximately 30 shows a season, and will be a place for talent to come to the city, so members of the community do not have to make the trek to venues in D.C. or Virginia Beach.
8News asked Mayor Stoney what performances and acts he hopes are enticed by the Riverfront Amphitheater and who could make their way to the City of Richmond in the future.
“I know there are a lot of folks who would love to see Taylor [Swift],” Mayor Stoney said. “Folks would love to see Beyoncé. I can’t promise you that. That’s all on LiveNation, right? But I can tell you this… there are going to be some great acts here — acts that you normally don’t get to see in Richmond.”
The site’s organizers also said they would not know which artists will be the first to break in the massive new stage until closer to the project’s completion. Developers expect that date to happen by summer 2025.
