CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland’s plans for its downtown lakefront include the possibility of an indoor-outdoor music venue as one key element.
That would place Cleveland in company with several other cities regionally that have made music centers part of waterfront developments. But some industry experts in the local music scene question the wisdom of doing so here.
Here’s what to know about the status of those plans and what is going on elsewhere, as detailed in an in-depth story recently on cleveland.com.
A new music venue is part of the lakefront vision
A 10,000-seat indoor/outdoor venue for concerts and public events is part of the preliminary vision released in December for redeveloping Cleveland-owned land at and around the current football stadium. The plan, advanced by the North Coast Waterfront Development Corp., aims to create a year-round attraction on the lakefront.
Local industry fears market saturation
Some experts in Cleveland’s music scene believe the market is already too crowded to support another large venue. They say a new amphitheater would draw business from established facilities like Rocket Arena, Blossom Music Center and Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica.
Waterfront venues are a regional trend
Cleveland’s proposal follows a pattern set by other major cities like Buffalo, Chicago, Toronto and Cincinnati, which have incorporated such music centers into their waterfront redevelopment projects. These venues, such as Chicago’s Huntington Bank Pavilion and Cincinnati’s J Brady Music Center, have become staples of shoreline parks and public spaces.
Independent operators voice concern
Owners of smaller, independent venues locally question the potential use of public dollars and fear the project could primarily benefit large national promoters like AEG or Live Nation. They advocate for a holistic approach that ensures any publicly assisted venue also supports the city’s smaller, independent clubs, which are facing financial strain.
The project is still in its exploratory phase
Officials stress that the venue is part of an early-stage vision, not a final commitment, with market studies and a master plan yet to be completed. The Waterfront Development Corp. plans to refine the vision with a consultant and present an updated plan to the public by summer after gathering more data and public input.