It’s bigger than the one they used to have? hopefully
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I agree. I hope that the CoR reconsiders their long term plans of expanding the convention center into the space currently occupied by the amphitheater. I’ve said all along that the amphitheater has added much more to downtown businesses than an expanded convention center would. And, IMO, placing a venue @ Dix doesn’t really help the downtown businesses as much because 95% of the current traffic in and out of Dix is automobile. My downtown business gets plenty of foot traffic from Red Hat, and almost nothing from events at Dix.
I even suggest going even beyond and making the Red Hat a more all-weather, year round venue. It would be an even more valuable asset to our downtown.
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I think the city could support both Red Hat and Dix amphitheaters. The Dix venue could be bigger, a la Waterloo Park in Austin. The best way to get people out to see live music is to provide it and get them in the habit of going out to shows.
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Shame about losing the big dazzle wall view from everywhere but McDowell but keeping the amphitheater properly downtown is worth it.
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Do we not have enough outdoor music venues now? Koca booth, Red Hat, Walnut Creek…all outdoor venues. Do we really need a new one at Dix AND keep Red Hat? I would think one or the other is plenty
Nice. But how many times do I have to tell you guys. Don’t block West Lenoir. It’s the longest, contiguous, east-west street that crosses downtown. It’s 2.25 mile long, and ties the neighborhoods east and west of downtown together, connecting all the way from Boylan Heights to Raleigh Blvd - and comes complete with an underpass under the railroad. It’s a pretty important street.
Block West Cabarrus instead. It’s already not that great because it ends at Salisbury; after the railroad crossing is closed, the downtown segment of Cabarrus will be even more pointless.
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Yeah but north of Cabarrus is only partially owned by the city. If you consider relocating the police headquarters. The rest is county/private owned. That could get expensive.
Koka Booth is a fine, not super convenient venue. Coastal is in a terrible location and last time I parked there it was basically a ditch in a dirt lot. I’m fine if someone wants to put an actual venue in Dix, but everything about Dix is a contentious discussion about 10 to 20 years down the line. Red Hat is kind of a crappy venue, but it’s perfectly located and completely sufficient. I would see almost anything at Red Hat or PNC (to be fair I can walk over), but have passed up shows by 3 bands I wanted to see at Coastal because of past experiences.
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Koka Booth is also surrounded by NIMBY neighborhoods that constantly complain about sound levels with Cary, neutering the experience at Koka. I refuse to see a rock band there because you won’t feel the power sadly.
I know it would be a lonnnng shot, but my dream situation would be to rebuild Red Hat with the stage in the NE corner (city skyline backdrop and sound not slapping off the shimmer wall) with a killer structure over stage, and an actual amphitheater layout (topography).
Oh and relocate Koka Booth to Dix Park
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With that set up (stage on NE corner) we’d get to actually hear mostly the band and not the echo off the shimmer wall, though I suspect it would be a bit louder direct from the speakers vs an extra trip (speaker > wall > Dylan).
Either way, I’m all for whatever makes the experience better for the band and audience. You do have to admit though, the view of the stage with the sunset behind it is pretty badass.
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A crosstown street, with a grade separation under the railroad already in place, is orders of magnitude more valuable than a few buildings across the street. It would cost $infinity to create a new street like Lenoir; it would cost a few million to relocate Poole’s and the police, and reconfigure the driveway to the county parking deck.
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Unfortunately the fire trees have lost their color but here’s some shots with the rink fully activated.
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In reference to the discussion about a new amphitheater on Dix Hill, I’ve been meaning to post this for awhile. Huntsville, Al, (which just became the largest city in the state, and certainly has the most dynamic economy thanks to the Federal Gov’t) is building a really big amphitheater. There is going to be close coordination with the civic center for booking acts - they have a fine musical hall there. Enjoy the story!
I realize that the design might be to classical for many folks here - still it will be an impressive place, and something that if Raleigh every gets around to rebuilding or replacing Red Hat, we should look to for inspiration.
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Biggest city is certainly a bit deceiving when it comes to Alabama 
I do think the amphitheater will do well and be a nice addition to the city, but I drove past it recently and man does the classical design seem out of place IMO. I would hope for something that complements the built environment a little more here.
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True enough, lol. Metro Atlanta might be bigger than the whole state!
Very, very nice! 
Also, count me as one of those “classical” style lovers at heart 
Congratulations to Huntsville! 
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Lots of new construction going on at Red Hat the last couple of weeks. New seating layout and what looks like new shade canopy’s near the bathroom and food vendors. I’ll try and get a good picture this weekend while on a walk.
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Hallelujah praise the music gods.
I have tickets to a show in June that is GA. Hopefully there will be much less fixed chairs!!
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Are you looking for a GA pit up front? I don’t think any of the chairs at Red Hat are fixed, they can choose how large to make the pit or whether to have one at all.