Richmond's new music venue gets a name change and opening date
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The latest rendering of Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront. Image: Courtesy of Live Nation
Richmond's under-construction Riverfront Amphitheater has a new name and an opening date.
Why it matters: It's time to practice pronouncing "Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront," because that's what the venue set to open in June is now called.
- Developers announced in January it would be called Riverfront Amphitheater.
The big picture: Venue owners Live Nation and Charlottesville-based Red Light Ventures, along with insurance company Allianz Partners, announced the name change at a press event Tuesday morning.
- Officials declined to share how much money Allianz, a 130-year-old German insurance company, is paying for the naming rights.
- Allianz provides optional ticket insurance for Live Nation venues. It signed on for a 10-year naming rights deal.
The presser also included an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the 4-acre site for media.
Here's what we learned:
The shows
- The first round of artists will be announced "in the coming weeks." So soonish.
- Officials declined to share possible artists for the first performances, but said Texas-based rock band Whiskey Myers and Connecticut indie-rock group goose are the size and style of artists they'll likely draw here.
- Similar-sized venues have booked artists like Tyler Childers and Dave Matthews Band, who are managed by the Charlottesville music exec who owns Red Light Ventures.
- Their goal is to make "Richmond a must-stop on major tours," Live Nation's Matt Rogers told reporters.
- Locals should expect 30 shows a season, which will run spring through fall after the summer opening.
The venue
- Three food and beverage stations will be positioned throughout the venue with offerings from the celebrity chefs Live Nation has partnerships with, like Danny Trejo's Trejo's Tacos,, Brooke Williamson's fish and chips, and Volt Burger from Bryan Voltaggio.
- There's no parking, as was previously announced, and the entrance will be behind and to the far left of the stage, if you're facing it.
- The amphitheater will use mobile ticketing, so don't expect paper stubs.
- Cocktails, wine and beer will also be available for purchase.
- Those 7,500 seats will be broken up into: seating for 3,500 in the bowl, standing room for 100 flanking both sides of the bowl, more standing room on the lawn and 28 premium box seats and four private suites.
- Expect plantings to line the top of the hill along 2nd Street to create a natural barrier between the amphitheater and the public street and sidewalk.
Of note: Live Nation said they're working with Venture Richmond, which oversees Brown's Island, to ensure there's no overlap in bookings.
- The venues are close enough that one concert could conceivably drown out the other.
- Brown's Island regularly hosts shows from spring through fall, including its Friday Cheers summer concert series.
What's next: Artists should be announced soon, so until then, we wait.