“Ended up being a pretty good season for the Acrisure Amphitheater.”
Convention/Arena Authority director Rich MacKeigan says they anticipated 30 to 35 events during the first season at the amphitheater and they had 49. They expected attendance around 300 thousand.
“We are probably going to end up over 400,000.”
And he says those visitors spent money before and after events.
“A positive impact on businesses including hotels restaurants downtown.”
The only negative, complaints about noise from neighbors. Karen Henry Stokes lives on the 31st floor of the nearby Plaza Towers Condominiums.
The concert Friday night was like an invasion of my home. Thump, thump, thump, thump that went on for hours.”
But Kara Wood lives on the 22nd floor:
“And the vast majority of my Plaza Towers neighbors love it and are already looking forward to next season.”
After a judge ruled the amphitheater must obey the city’s noise ordinance, the city commission will consider an exemption for the amphitheater at their next meeting. City manager Mark Washington says they are getting fewer complaints.
“Towards the end of the amphitheater season very few complaints relative to what we experienced early on.”
