That’s actually a very aggressive schedule and expectation. I can’t think of any project of that scale being completed in a year in Raleigh. If they intend to achieve that, maybe they have 2 full shifts running daily?
There could easily be a point in the phasing plan where the concert venue could be open and functional with some additional bells and whistles deferred to later phases completed during the new facility’s first off-season.
3 Likes
That would make sense. Use portably toilets and trailers for operations for that first season, or something like that.
1 Like
What is a comparable project? If we trust perplexity Koka booth took 3 years from the first commission to opening with construction taking around a year.
There’s an amphitheater being built near downtown Birmingham that broke ground last June and plans to open this June, so a year or less timeline doesn’t seem that crazy.
7 Likes
Yea, this shouldn’t take that long. There’s not a lot of site prep needed, no buildings to demolish, not much foundation work, all the seating will basically be on top of a concrete slab, doesn’t have miles of utility lines to run.
3 Likes
To be fair, they acknowledge that the schedule is “incredibly aggressive”.
RedHat2 is a project in the core of downtown between 2 main N/S artery roads. That project manager needs to be at the top of their game!
2 Likes
NIH funding cuts will be brutal for this region.
Good thing they’re not building the amphitheater
5 Likes
No but they are paying for the seats, indirectly.
Do I recall that there is some sort of deadine baked into the contract for the Omni hotel related to getting the convention center expansion finished?
Have to get Redhat moved out before the convention center expansion can begin. Have to get new Redhat built so we can close the old one.
As I further recall, this was the reason that approving the amphitheater RIGHT NOW was treated as an all-hands-on-deck emergency a few months ago. “No time to consider alternatives. RedHat might go away and never come back!” was the cry (from some of y’all here on this board.)
1 Like
For that matter, when is the Omni hotel supposed to start? I feel like that’s been super quiet too.
2 Likes
I mean anything is possible. But there is far more than just throwing up a stage for Red Hat version 2. I would hope they can turn it around so that there is no time interruption for the events. It seems far more likely than not that the permits, ASR is going to take longer for the convention center and hotel as well, making this ALL a multi year project. Usually things take longer but you have to set an aggressive schedule if you are going to have a goal to meet it.
2 Likes
That’s not even the primary reason. Dude, it’s over. The decision has been made and is in motion. Maybe it’s best that you wait for the end result instead of continuing to beat the dead horse.
8 Likes
Got a link to this entire document by chance?
No I don’t. Sorry. The attorneys kill trees. Plenty of handouts that get recycled. No links to documents since it is a quasi judicial board we don’t have access to much beforehand.
For those interested in transportation, we got a very conservative “what if” detailed analysis out to 2050. Head spinning. I did ask about the slip lane going east on South Street. While it was not part of this study, it is still being reviewed. Completion of about 65%. Both the City and DOT seem to be at least willing to move forward with that. To me that is big especially for traffic congestion in the future in the “New Entertainment District” as the Red Hat folks are now calling that part of the DTR.
I will say that it appears a lot of work went into thinking about the impact of RH, the convention center and the hotel with respect to traffic. And it isn’t going to be a flash in the pan. With all good things, comes a need for mitigation of one kind or another. It will be great. But traffic will also be more intense. Did someone say we need people to walk and bike more?
[https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/files/DDKRDU6D3D8F/$file/20250210PLANDEVBOA-0057-2024-230425%20Raleigh%20Convention%20Center%20Red%20Hat%20Amphitheater%20Report_2024.10.17%20(Sealed)%20(1).pdf](https://Board of Adjustment Transportation Analysis Red Hat)
4 Likes
I believe they said 2028
1 Like
It’s not starting for 3 more years?? Yikes that’s never gonna finish.
My understanding from the meeting it is starting this year. But I saw in the handouts the project finish date was 2028. But I am hoping I am wrong and that it finishes sooner…
2 Likes