About the Proposed Move
Red Hat Amphitheater was always meant to be a temporary venue that would move to a new location to accommodate the Raleigh Convention Center’s eventual expansion.
In 2023, Raleigh City Council and Wake County Board of Commissioners agreed upon the use of the Inter-Local Hospitality Tax Funds to support new hospitality and tourism projects such as the renovation of PNC Arena, expansion of the Raleigh Convention Center and building a new Red Hat Amphitheater near its present site.
Now that expansion process is underway. At issue is the potential closure of South St. between Dawson St. and McDowell St., which is necessary for the new amphitheater’s footprint. Initial plans released in February 2023 intended to close a block of Lenoir St., however the plan shifted the proposed closure to South St. because moving existing infrastructure and utilities along Lenoir St. would make the project cost prohibitive.
City staff analyzed other options for keeping the street open. They were either identified as cost-prohibitive or not logistically feasible with the site constraints and venue requirements.
The current timeline is to begin construction on the new amphitheater this winter in preparation of opening for the 2026 season. This timing is necessary so the Convention Center can expand on that current amphitheater site. The Convention Center expansion is timed to coincide with the opening of the new 500+ room Omni Hotel in 2028, which is dependent on an expanded center.
With so many interconnected projects, the City of Raleigh’s timeline is intended to keep these all moving and to avoid missing an entire season at Red Hat Amphitheater.
The block closure requires Raleigh City Council approval in September. Failure to approve this closure could result in the amphitheater project being canceled. So, that’s where we need your help!
But first, you probably still have a lot of questions like:
What happens to connectivity in this part of downtown if this is built?
Why does this new venue need to be 7,000 seats?
What is the impact of this facility on downtown small businesses?
Are there issues with noise?
How can I help voice my support to keep this venue downtown?
While we’re compiling a more comprehensive FAQ page, follow us on social media for more information.
Expanding the Convention Center and Relocating Red Hat Amphitheater
This visual shows the footprint of the Convention Center’s expansion and relocation of Red Hat Amphitheater one block south of its current location.
Cost to move utilities and infrastructure along South St. and Lenoir St. informed the shift for street closure
The original plan to relocate the amphitheater called for closing part of Lenoir St. A shift to closing a block of South St. was made because there are fewer utilities and less infrastructure along South St., making it more cost effective to close part of South St.
What’s at Stake
What do we stand to lose if the amphitheater doesn’t move?
If the street closure is not approved so the amphitheater can move to its new location, the outcome is plain and simple – the amphitheater will not be built. City of Raleigh staff are clear that there is no other site downtown that can accommodate a venue of this size, and the site plan cannot be modified to keep the street open.
Here’s a preview of what the impacts could be:
Economic Impact: The amphitheater brings significant economic benefits to downtown businesses. The venue’s nearly 100 days of event programming will bring an estimated $30+ million in economic impact in 2024. Businesses in Downtown Raleigh are overwhelmingly locally owned, and small business owners report that they can see sales double or more when there’s an event at the amphitheater.
Safety: Positive foot traffic helps improve safety in downtown. The amphitheater's events contribute to more foot traffic in the area around the Convention Center and downtown, enhancing safety and security in the area on nights with shows.
The Amphitheater Brings Visitors Downtown: The amphitheater is a key amenity for downtown Raleigh, offering a diverse programming line up that fills the void left by the absence of a downtown sports stadium or arena. This is even more important as preferences toward hybrid and remote work are more common and fewer office workers are in downtown during the week. We need the programming Red Hat Amphitheater provides to bring much needed foot traffic and visitors to Downtown Raleigh.
Cultural Attractions Make Vibrant Communities: Without Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh could lose the opportunity to see the caliber of national acts that perform at the venue each season. The capacity and location of the venue provide a niche opportunity for routing mid-sized tours and festivals through Raleigh as they travel on the east coast. Losing our downtown Amphitheater would likely cause a ripple effect within the downtown cultural community, too. Strong music, arts, and culture centers like Raleigh need venues of every size to support a vibrant creative ecosystem.
Family-Friendly Attractions: The seasonal downtown Ice Rink is hosted at the amphitheater, and is a significant attraction, bringing families downtown and boosting foot traffic during winter months. Because of site requirements, there is no other place to put the Ice Rink without the amphitheater. Moore Square is not graded sufficiently and lacks the required power infrastructure. The former location in City Plaza is no longer available.
A Loss for Raleigh Is a Win for Nearby Cities: Failure to build this amphitheater at its planned size would result in tours skipping Raleigh for Wilmington and Charlotte. Live Nation has made it clear that this venue size is needed to maintain our place on tours that are routed through similar sized amphitheaters. Durham’s new tourism plan from April 2024 includes a recommendation to build an outdoor amphitheater. With Red Hat Amphitheater out of the mix, their proposed venue would attract the types of tours that currently come through Raleigh. We saw this dynamic happen when Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) opened in 2008, siphoning touring Broadway shows and other events away from our own Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Raleigh.
Solutions for Connectivity
Much of the public conversation around the potential amphitheater move and street closure centers on issues of connectivity – how residents to the west of Downtown will be able travel in and out of their neighborhoods without disruption, how the South St. closure will affect bus routes, and how visitors to Downtown can easily access nearby amenities.
Impacts of the South Street Closure for Connectivity
In order for the amphitheater to remain downtown, a block of South Street must close. At peak travel times, the block proposed to close sees less than 300 cars per hour, compared to nearly 2,000 cars per hour on nearby McDowell St. at the same peak time.
According to the City of Raleigh, South Street currently sees one-third the traffic it was intended for (daily average: 3,300 cars vs 10,000 cars). Lenoir Street averages 2,650 cars daily. If all of the South Street traffic reroutes to Lenoir Street after the closure, Lenoir Street still would be at just roughly 60% of its capacity.
Shifting traffic to Lenoir St. is not the only option on the table. One additional potential solution is a slip lane, which is a new connection just south of the amphitheater to connect McDowell and Dawson Streets.
Another Solution for Car Access: Slip Lane
A potential solution for the minimizing the impact of the street closure is to create a slip lane to reroute vehicle traffic around the amphitheater to allow easy access to the southern end of Downtown. A slip lane is a road junction that allows road users to change roads without entering an intersection.
City staff members are working with NCDOT to create a slip lane that would allow drivers traveling eastbound on South St. to connect to McDowell St. to head in a northbound direction or reconnect with South St. and continue traveling east.
The proposed slip lane would be constructed on a City-owned parcel and located roughly one block south of the intersection of South and Dawson streets. That potential solution would keep public transportation, first responders, and other vehicular traffic moving through the area smoothly and quickly.
The Dix-Chavis Strollway
There is a plan to connect Chavis Park to Dix Park via a bike and pedestrian friendly path through downtown. Proposed plans for
the Convention Center expansion and Amphitheater relocation include funding for part of the Strollway to be constructed on Lenoir Street surrounding the new venue.
The Strollway plans include ways to celebrate the area’s significant heritage and history while providing another option for accessing downtown on the southern end.
Right now, this project could use a boost of energy – the route is not finalized, and additional resources are needed to bring this project to life. Finalizing a plan for the Strollway would add another option for connectivity in the south end of downtown and bring much needed improvements to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in that area.
Advocates for relocating the Amphitheater one block south are in favor of prioritizing this Strollway project and invite you to join us in speaking up in favor of moving this project toward completion.
A Slip Lane to Reroute South Street
One way to keep traffic moving on the south end of Downtown is to advocate for the creation of a slip lane between Dawson and McDowell Streets. This solution would allow public transportation, first responders, and other vehicular traffic to move through the area smoothly and quickly.
A Strollway Through Downtown Would Provide Additional Connectivity for Cyclists and Pedestrians
Map illustrating how part of the potential Chavis-Dix Strollway routes could come connect through the new Amphitheater site.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know you’ve got lots of questions, and we want to give you answers! We’ll be adding to this page as we hear more about what you’re curious to know. Please reach out if you have a specific question to ask: info@saveouramphitheater.com
Check out this FAQ from Red Hat Amphitheater, which addresses many questions about timeline, access for emergency services and transit, noise, and the Shimmer Wall.
Here are answers to a few more frequently asked questions we get below:
How can I help?
We need you to get on the bandwagon to show your support for moving the Amphitheater to its proposed location. Speak up by sharing your love for the venue with Raleigh City Council, by sharing your stories with us on social media (#saveouramphitheater), and by sharing our campaign with your family, friends, and neighbors. Follow us on social media to find out more about how you can get involved.
Where can I find more information?
Why not move the amphitheater to Dix Park? Or somewhere else?
Great question! Dix Park is a wonderful asset to Raleigh, but for many reasons, it is not the best location for a replacement. A 7,000 seat amphitheater in the park would require significantly more money to build, due to increased infrastructure costs to add utilities and parking facilities. Not to mention that the park’s elevation could mean potentially more noise concerns for the surrounding neighborhoods. Most importantly, the economic impact on small businesses would not be nearly as strong as in downtown.
What about moving it to another location in downtown? There is no other City-owned site that could support an amphitheater of this size in downtown Raleigh.
Why not just make the amphitheater smaller? Why does it need to be 6,000+ capacity?
Red Hat Amphitheater is part of a group of similarly sized venues, such as Live Oak Bank Pavilion in Wilmington, NC (capacity: 7,500), Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville (capacity: 6.500) and the under-construction Richmond Riverfront Amphitheater (capacity: 7.500) that are booked with many of the same tours.
Live Nation, who books the programming at Red Hat Amphitheater, has told City staff that many shows would get routed to Charlotte or Wilmington instead of playing a smaller venue here in Raleigh. And a smaller venue already exists in the city at North Carolina Museum of Art. This is because these tours build their touring schedule and infrastructure (equipment, staff, loading) around these venues.
Bottom line: Reducing capacity would make it much less likely that Red Hat Amphitheater would attract the caliber of national touring acts that typically play during the season, which would lead to fewer bookings, thus reducing the number of visitors and economic impact of the venue.
What is the plan for cycling, pedestrian and car connectivity if this block of South Street closes for the venue to move?
For more in depth information, visit the Connectivity page on our website.
In short, plans for the Convention Center expansion and Amphitheater relocation include funds to keep vehicle traffic flowing along Lenoir St. while adding a 14 ft. wide walkway with bike and pedestrian lanes along the Lenoir St-McDowell St–Dawson St edges of the new venue. The wide walkway could be knit into the future route of the Chavis-Dix Strollway. At present, the final route of the Strollway has not been determined.
Additionally, the City has proposed a “slip lane” that would connect Dawson and McDowell Streets south of the new amphitheater to maintain auto access.
Will Lenoir Street continue to be closed for Red Hat Amphitheater events if the proposed move happens?
No, it will remain open. One benefit of the new plan to relocate the venue is that the new design shifts the loading zone location, meaning that the new design would not require closures to Lenoir St. or any other streets in that area. Currently, Lenoir St. is often closed during event preparation for shows at Red Hat Amphitheater and the current plans would keep the street open.
Will this new location for the amphitheater increase noise issues?
The City of Raleigh’s FAQ has a good answer on this and includes a link to a noise analysis of the new site. Their answer: In general, no.
The City engaged an acoustician to study the noise impacts of the current amphitheater on surrounding neighborhoods relative to the noise impacts the venue will have in its newly-proposed location. The study revealed that the new amphitheater will substantially reduce decibel levels in neighborhoods to the south and west.
With almost no exceptions, the orientation and construction of the new amphitheater is anticipated to reduce noise levels in these areas between 3 and 15 decibels depending on the specific location.
Who do I contact to speak up in favor of approving the plan to close South St. so Red Hat Amphitheater can move?
Your City Counselors need to hear from you. They want to hear from you -- in your own words! We encourage you to reach out directly to them and use some of the resources our website to explain your viewpoint on the importance of keeping this venue in downtown.
Here’s how you contact them:
Mary-Ann.Baldwin@raleighnc.gov
I own a small business in Downtown Raleigh. How do I sign on to your letter of support?
Email us and we’ll send you that link to add your name to the list! info@saveouramphitheater.com
Who are you?
We are a coalition of downtown residents, business owners, community leaders, performing arts advocates, and fans of live music in Downtown Raleigh who believe that this amphitheater plays a critical role in making our downtown vibrant. We are not associated with Live Nation nor the City of Raleigh.
We are supported by Downtown Raleigh Alliance, who is leading the charge to organize efforts. However, this is truly a community-led and community-inspired grassroots campaign to keep Raleigh’s downtown outdoor venue from going away.
Want to be involved or send us feedback? Email us at info@saveouramphitheater.com
Take Action: Join the Bandwagon
Red Hat Amphitheater is the beating heart of Downtown Raleigh, providing us with music, memories and an unforgettable outdoor concert experience. It is a vital economic engine for downtown and one of our most popular public amenities.
But without your support, the beloved outdoor venue may be permanently closed as the Raleigh Convention Center expands its footprint.
Please take action and join the community of support – from advocates for downtown and fans of great live music to business owners, residents and neighbors – to ensure this vital asset continues to thrive. Here’s how you can get involved.
Make your voice heard to Raleigh City Council:
City Council members want to hear from you -- in your own words -- about why you want the plans to relocate Red Hat Amphitheater to move forward. Here are some ideas to get your response started:
Small business owners:
Raleigh residents and area visitors:
Club owners, musicians, and other music industry professionals:
Contact Information for our City Council Members:
Speak up during Public Comment:
Sign up to speak out during the Public Comment section of the upcoming City Council meetings prior to the September 17th vote. The next opportunity for public comment is on Tuesday, September 10th. Sign ups are closed, but you can attend in person to show support.
A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 17th before the vote that afternoon. Bookmark this page and we’ll keep you informed about how you can show your support.
We will keep this page updated as these details unfold.
Join the conversation on social media:
Follow us and voice your support for keeping Red hat Amphitheater in downtown. Use #saveouramphitheater to tell your story about what this venue has meant to you and how you visit downtown businesses before and after shows.
Sign on to our Letter of Support:
Have you written to City Council, followed us on social for updates, and are still wanting to do more? Then sign on to our Letter of Support. With your signature, you’ll join the community of residents, business owners, and music fans who are doing what it takes to keep the amphitheater’s relocation moving forward. Join us!
Sign On Letter
Have you written to City Council, followed us on social for updates, and are still wanting to do more? Then sign on to this Letter of Support. With your signature, you’ll join the community of residents, business owners, and music fans who are doing what it takes to keep the amphitheater’s relocation to South St. moving forward. Join us!
City Council Members:
The future of Red Hat Amphitheater is at stake. Without Raleigh’s support, this exceptional outdoor venue may be permanently closed. Since it was built, the amphitheater has become one of the most visited and beloved venues in the region and, specifically, in downtown Raleigh.
For those of us who own businesses in downtown, the amphitheater is a critical piece of downtown Raleigh’s social and economic fabric. Losing this venue would be a significant blow to our community of independently owned businesses. We have all invested our own creativity and resources into making Raleigh uniquely representative of the makers, chefs, artists, brewers and entrepreneurs of our region and our state.
Shows at Red Hat Amphitheater bring tens of thousands of visitors downtown — visitors who support our businesses and who contribute to the vitality of our state’s capital city. Many of us report significant increases in sales and foot traffic when Red Hat Amphitheater has a show — sometimes seeing sales as much as double on evenings when the venue is programmed.
We downtown businesses can’t afford to lose this venue. As a community, we’ve been resilient and worked hard to bounce back from the challenges of the last few years, from fewer office workers to more competition from new shopping districts. And yet again, we find ourselves defending our livelihoods. We need Raleigh’s leadership to invest in new opportunities for bolstering downtown businesses and revitalizing our downtown economy. Instead, we find ourselves playing defense to keep what amenities we already have.
This region is extraordinary in its diversity of downtowns, each with a distinct personality. We are proud that Raleigh has embraced our unique and ever-changing array of businesses. A venue like Red Hat Amphitheater is the sort of things other cities DREAM of building. Let’s not fool ourselves: if we lose this venue, it will take no time at all for one of our sister cities to build one of their own (DPAC is a great example). We have it, we’ve proven it is successful, and we are at risk of letting it slip through our fingers.
Red Hat Amphitheater was always meant to move to an adjacent location. The benefit of its temporary location is in proving how valuable such a venue is to downtown and how resoundingly it could succeed as a concert venue and as host to various off-season attractions like the Raleigh Ice Rink. Its success in and for downtown is not at issue.
The expansion process has been carefully planned to allow the venue to continue booking incredible and diverse performances for more than 50 shows a year, without interruption. The specific plan, which moves the amphitheater one block south, must be approved by the Raleigh City Council, otherwise it could be lost for good.
We do not see this as a “we win, someone else loses” proposition. We embrace and support our downtown neighbors. Their concerns gave rise to an even better plan that offers a reasonable alternative access point and, in fact, enhances the pedestrian and cycling access in the surrounding area. We believe this updated plan offers an opportunity to further beautify and enhance the connections between downtown and parks like Dix and Chavis while preserving the optimal design for a permanent Red Hat Amphitheater.
Raleigh City Council will consider the Red Hat Amphitheater relocation in September, with opportunity for public comment before their vote. That gives us just a few weeks to make it clear that Red Hat Amphitheater needs to stay in downtown Raleigh and that the current plan is sound.
We need to make some noise. Here are ways that you can join us in showing support:
Please consider writing to City Council to share why you and your business need Red Hat Amphitheater’s relocation plan to move forward. Let them know that you need to see them commit to creating a timeline and plan for the Dix-Chavis Strollway and addressing connectivity issues in this part of downtown. Here’s more information about how you can take action.
Then sign on to this letter in support of keeping the Amphitheater in Downtown Raleigh. And stay in touch by following us to make sure you’re getting the latest updates and calls to action to support this campaign.
Signed:
Pam Blondin & Savannah Bridges DECO Raleigh
Matt Coleman,
The Davie
Kevin Frazier, Mateo Frazier, & Nevada Wolfe
Sir Walter Coffee
Sam Ratto,
Videri Chocolate Company
Adam Eckhardt, Dylan Selinger, Michael Morris, & Bob High
Crank Arm Brewing
Sunny Gerhart,
St. Roch
Carey & Lelia Kidd
Element Gastropub and VegSouth Hospitality Group
Anna Grace FitzGerald,
Copperline Plant Company
Les Stewart, Rebecca Couch, Woody Lockwood, Chris Powers, & David Meeker
Trophy Brewing
Johnny Belflower
Tasty Beverage Company
Lacie Lindstaedt, Adam Lindstaedt, and Nick Walters
Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop
Erin & Martin Wheeler
Neptunes
Grant Eddins,
DJ Grant
Keenan Yokell,
Raleigh Resident
Rusty Sutton & Drew Temple
The Green Monkey
Kayla High,
Raleigh Resident
Kim Hammer & Lewis Norton
Bittersweet
Beth Sadler,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Sorena Dadgar
The Hippo Wine Bar and Shop
Allie Jacobs,
Raleigh Resident
Tina Govan
Tina Govan Architect
Chris Holland,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Heather Leigh Brewer,
Raleigh Resident
Kristin Frink,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Janera Fedrick,
Raleigh Resident
Gian Rosso,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Kathleen Loescher,
Raleigh Resident
John Blondin,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Brittany Dolloff,
Raleigh Resident
Hannah Fuller,
Raleigh Resident
Brittney Cava Follett
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Tracy Tarby,
Raleigh Resident
Nicole Licato,
Raleigh Resident
Taylor Morgan,
Raleigh Resident
Sonali Schroder,
Wake County Resident
Jessica Flemming,
Raleigh Resident
Evan Koff,
Raleigh Resident
Chris Pittman,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Emma Esser,
Raleigh Resident
Ginny Gillikin,
Raleigh Resident
Jamey Adcox,
Raleigh Resident
Amy Nonino,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Spencer Mertes,
Raleigh Resident
Madison Taylor,
Raleigh Resident
Alton Parker,
Raleigh Resident
Chris Leithe,
Raleigh Resident
Kelly Dubee,
Raleigh Resident
Angelique Bolding,
Raleigh Resident
Ryan Terhune,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Olivia Witt,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Christopher Leazer,
Raleigh Resident
Melanie Rondot,
Raleigh Resident
Andrew DiMeo,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Shannon Archer,
Raleigh Resident
Danny Johnson,
Wake County Resident
Logan Gelabert,
Downtown Raleigh Resident
Adeline Brinkley,
Raleigh Resident
Anne Purcell,
Raleigh Resident
Jackson Vaughan,
Raleigh Resident
April Matthews,