11 Things to Know About the Proposed Red Hat Amphitheater

We tap Raleigh Convention Center’s executive director Kerry Painter for answers to lingering questions surrounding Red Hat Amp’s proposed expansion.

ICYMI, the future of Red Hat Amphitheater is at stake. 

While it was initially intended to be a temporary venue, the City has long planned to move and update the amphitheater to sustain the amount of traffic it attracts. The planned expansion would accommodate ~1,000 more seats and a larger loading dock and backstage area, as well as increased concessions—and the only “cost” of that expansion is the closure of one block of South Street, a road that sees just one-third of the traffic it was built for.

As the Sept. 17 City Council vote grows closer, confusion surrounding what will actually happen to the amphitheater mounts—as well as rumors about why different infrastructure decisions were made. 

Here, we cut to the chase, tapping Raleigh Convention Center and Performing Arts Complex Executive Director Kerry Painter —who has also run venues in Tulsa, Ontario, Niagara Falls and Slidell—to clear the air on lingering questions. 

What happens to Red Hat Amp if they do not vote to pass the South Street closure?   

We cannot build the amphitheater and it will likely be lost. 

What will happen if the vote is tied?

If the vote is tied, then the motion fails. The project does not have support to advance, and we lose the amp. 

If the closure does not pass, is there an alternative plan in the works to save the amphitheater and keep music Downtown?

No. There is no other Downtown location available to us that meets the requirements for a viable venue within our given budget. 

When and why did the proposed street closure switch from Lenoir Street to South Street? 

The amphitheater and what it needs to be viable does not fit on Lenoir and the lot of land we own. It left us with approximately 4,500 seats instead of the 6,000 minimum and was over budget. It didn’t provide the operational needs and safety needs as well as artist spaces necessary. By incorporating South Street, we also have the ability to tap into another plot of land owned by NCDOT, which then makes enough space for the new design and its needs.

How much traffic is there on South Street compared to Lenoir? 

South Street sees approximately 3,300 cars a day, and Lenoir Street [sees] 2,250. These streets are each designed to accommodate 10,000 cars a day. 

People are saying there must be an ulterior motive behind the South Street closure. Is anyone benefiting from the switch?

No one is benefiting from the design except the audience, who will still have access to a fantastic annual concert lineup. We are not displacing any homes or businesses by closing this block, and no one is getting paid or benefiting from this closure. 

How does the closure of the block of South Street affect the Chavis-Dix Strollway? 

We have incorporated the Strollway concept into our design, making it a catalyst for the design and construction to begin. I see it as a huge win! We will be investing significant dollars to this effort and, coupled with the federal dollars already committed, this will almost double the Strollway budget and launch the concept into reality. This is an excellent opportunity to work with engaged strollway advocates on design and other features of the path. 

Many are concerned the proposed plans have no room for public opinion. Why did the convention center opt to not take public input? 

This is a purpose-built venue. It has many parameters that it must meet in order for it to successfully host concerts, satisfy artist needs and provide a safe experience for guests. The exercise to this point has been one of math—fitting the geometric shape necessary on the land we have. We’re making sure the direction of sound is appropriate for a quality experience, studying sightlines and viewing angles that’s necessary from each direction, and adding in the next layers such as restrooms, industry standard concessions, artist needs, etc. It is really a ‘fit the spaces into the site’ exercise which doesn’t provide an opportunity for creativity from the community. We do intend to seek out public engagement on elements where we have more flexibility, specifically the strollway design.

If the relocated amphitheater is built, will any seats be covered to provide shade and protect from inclement weather? 

Yes, some seats will be covered and a greater number than now. The final number is still to be determined. As an additional plus, the new Capital Square condo directly behind us shades the new location much earlier in the day than the old location.  

How many employees does it take to run a show at the amphitheater? What happens to those employees should the amphitheater get demolished? 

Live Nation uses approximately 130 people per evening, Sodexo uses approximately 70–80 per evening for food and beverage, and the City also has approximately six. Several staff [have] professions like schoolteachers, police wives and others who need a supplemental second income. Sadly, those positions would be gone with the cancellations of a show season. When we build the ice rink, we use people daily for a solid eight weeks, and those jobs would also be gone at a seasonal time when people are looking for extra spending money.

How is this another “DPAC moment,” and what potential impact will another loss like that have on the city? 

DPAC was born out of a failure to make a deal at our performing arts center years ago. The promoter built their own theater and booked the shows they owned there. We have never seen a Nederlander show at our venue since. It was a true pivot point where Raleigh lost a touring theater.

Now, we have an amphitheater that draws people Downtown to see top artists. Without a venue this size, concerts will skip Raleigh and perform in other cities like Wilmington and Charlotte only. Again, Durham is paying attention and has proposed an amphitheater in its tourism plan. If we lose an entertainment draw this time, we know the economic impact is likely catastrophic to our Downtown, where businesses see a 20 to 50% uptick on show days—therefore, it’s a risk for the whole city.   

*Answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.