City council unanimously approves new riverfront amphitheater

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Historic Tredegar Hill will soon become the foundation of an outdoor amphitheater.

Richmond City Council has voted unanimously to move forward with building a new Riverfront Amphitheater on Tredgegar Street near the Civil War Museum.

The venue will sit right along the James River and will seat more than 7,000 people. The location will mainly be used for concerts and community events.

It will have a main stage, three sections of fixed seating, pit seating, and lawn capacity, making room for up to 10,000 people.

The manager of the Dave Matthews Band, Coran Capshaw, is leading the project. His most recent work includes the Ting Pavilion in Charlottesville.

“From the venue size scale - you’re not talking about your smaller concerts, you’re talking about major size concerts with 7,500 people,” Dyson said.

Mayor Stoney released a statement sharing his approval of the decision, saying:

“I want to thank City Council for passing these generational-investment projects for our city... These projects will transform Richmond for years to come and provide an abundance of good paying jobs, entertainment opportunities, tourism, and critical revenue streams for our city.”

“These projects will transform Richmond for years to come and provide an abundance of good-paying jobs, entertainment opportunities, tourism, and critical revenue streams for our city. I look forward to helping push these projects to the finish line and delivering for the people of Richmond.” - Mayor Levar Stoney

Though city leaders are excited about the project, not everyone is happy about the decision.

Some residents pointed out the history of the proposed location for the amphitheater, saying that it is an enslaved African heritage site that should be preserved. Other residents voiced concerns about parking traffic and noise.

City councilors vowed to address those concerns and make sure to honor history as a part of the new build.

Construction is expected to start around November. It would then open in the spring of 2024.

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