New Concert Venue?

[Greg S]

On this week's Grow Omaha, in the News of the Week part when Trenton was talking about how Omaha has several things that people used to drive to KC for, he said, "and now we are getting a new concert venue."

Anyone know what he was talking about?

I have my fingers crossed for a large outdoor amphitheater.

[HighWinds]

There was a 17K seat amphitheater proposed in Gretna a little over a year ago. Could he have been mentioning that? (Also, does anyone have any updates on the status of that proposal? I forgot about it until now).

[djc311]

There was a 17K seat amphitheater proposed in Gretna a little over a year ago. Could he have been mentioning that? (Also, does anyone have any updates on the status of that proposal? I forgot about it until now).

17k seats? that would have similar capacity to CHI... almost double Red Rocks (granted nothing like that atmosphere).

[Greg S]

There was a 17K seat amphitheater proposed in Gretna a little over a year ago. Could he have been mentioning that? (Also, does anyone have any updates on the status of that proposal? I forgot about it until now).

17k seats? that would have similar capacity to CHI... almost double Red Rocks (granted nothing like that atmosphere).

18-20 k amphitheaters are popular now. KC just opened a second one, Morton's to go along with Azura (originally called Sandstone). They also just opened one in the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopee (called Mystic Lake).

I went to the one in St Louis, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater last summer.

[iamjacobm]

Red Rocks is really in a category all its own.

Fiddlers Green in Denver is more comparable to what typical large amphitheaters are like. If we got one here I would imagine it would probably be covered seats like Morton in KC.

[nebport5]

Red Rocks is really in a category all its own.

Fiddlers Green in Denver is more comparable to what typical large amphitheaters are like. If we got one here I would imagine it would probably be covered seats like Morton in KC.

Yes, Red Rocks only has a capacity around 9,500 which may also explain why it's horribly overpriced. It's worth going once or twice if you can find decent ticket prices but I wouldn't over pay for the experience. I've seen the same artists at Red Rocks at other venues for a fraction of the price and the shows are almost always better. Fidler's Green is twice the size but it's notorious for terrible acoustics unless you're right up front.

If they build something here I hope the acoustics don't take a back seat over other considerations. If something ends up in the Gretna area they should also take advantage of the geography for some gorgeous sunsets.

[djc311]

Maybe it's the "NEX(t)" big thing going into Nebraska Crossing?

Sure Yates won't be thrilled if he's not involved. Would look forward to seeing this be announced along with an IKEA in the area (plus a Target further SW).

[nebugeater]

There was a 17K seat amphitheater proposed in Gretna a little over a year ago. Could he have been mentioning that? (Also, does anyone have any updates on the status of that proposal? I forgot about it until now).

Are you possibly thinking about the 17 K +/- Arena that was bouncing around as an NHL arena? Don't remember an amphitheater myself.

[Linkin5]

Woodsonia proposed a 15K seat amphitheater in the Gretna Good Life district.

https://www.omahadailyrecord.com/conten ... hatgpt.com#

[Louie]

Woodsonia proposed a 15K seat amphitheater in the Gretna Good Life district.

https://www.omahadailyrecord.com/conten ... hatgpt.com#

Did that ever get further than that proposal?

[Garrett]

Woodsonia proposed a 15K seat amphitheater in the Gretna Good Life district.

https://www.omahadailyrecord.com/conten ... hatgpt.com#

Did that ever get further than that proposal?

Not that we've heard but stuff like that can take a while to do behind the scenes stuff. This was the drama with the Gretna Goodlife District being somewhat taken away from Yates.

[BuildTaller]

That rendering is from the Morton Amphitheater in KC

[skip]

yeah its definitely not referring to the one Yates half-assed proposed

[Greg S]

There was a 17K seat amphitheater proposed in Gretna a little over a year ago. Could he have been mentioning that? (Also, does anyone have any updates on the status of that proposal? I forgot about it until now).

Are you possibly thinking about the 17 K +/- Arena that was bouncing around as an NHL arena? Don't remember an amphitheater myself.

On Saturday's show Trenton said "new concert venue" which to me is different than an arena. He didn't say amphitheater though either.

Our own Brad Williams was next to him when he said it......

[zippy]

Wasn't the mention of this venue just a short time after they were discussing what other events the new soccer stadium could be used for?

[Brad]

Wasn't the mention of this venue just a short time after they were discussing what other events the new soccer stadium could be used for?

It's part of the Visit Omaha advertising in KC news story that starts at the 6:25 mark and I believe he was talking about the proposed Gretna amphitheater mentioned earlier in this thread.

[omaha79]

Wouldn't be opposed to a large outdoor amphitheater. It's the one piece of the live music portfolio Omaha is missing. It fits with the scope and scale of what other cities have and in similar locations within those metro areas. Most are in far flung suburban areas vs. the core where land is at a premium.

But, wherever they build it, they need to make sure there will never be residential development or it will end up in the same binds we've seen over the years from facilities like Sumtur, Astro, and even Sunset Speedway where they are either forced out of business or neighbors push to severely restrict operations.

The outdoor offerings Omaha currently has simply don't cut it...

Astro: Solid venue. more the mid level outdoor acts. Holds a decent amount and far superior to Stir, but the neighborhood noise rules likely will be an issue in time. Can't hold the truly big acts.

Stir Cove: Too small. Kind of cruddy and weak amenities without going into the casino. Can bring in medium acts, but not large.

Westfair: Just not in an area that Omaha people are willing to travel to, especially West Omaha people with money. It's a good hour from Elkhorn and Gretna, let alone Lincoln. The shows there have dwindled over the years.

Sumptur Ampitheater: They gave it a go as an outdoor theater, they really did. It's just not workable with the neighborhoods and Astro made it pointless for touring acts.

[nebport5]

I've never been to a show at The Astro and I can't say I'm particularly excited to either. Every venue picture I've seen gives me a sterile manufactured vibe. The reviews on the sound are decidedly mixed. I get the impression that the experience varies widely by the type of show and set up which implies the adaptability isn't great.

[almighty_tuna]

I've never been to a show at The Astro and I can't say I'm particularly excited to either.

I've been to many, many shows at the Astro. I think the inside venue is pretty nice. It's not bleeding with character, but I have been to way worse, and frankly there's not a bad seat in the house. The sound is generally pretty good across genres (have seen jazz, metalcore, indie, acoustic shows), though at the Toadies show, they did lose vocals at the beginning of their set.

I think the outdoor vibe is not great, but unfortunately that's based on only one show I attended. The concert itself was excellent, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge opened for Gary Clark Jr, highly recommend both! The chairs in the very front were uncomfortably small and close together. It was all just concrete and railings everywhere, meh. That said, I'm going to be at the Virgin Mary Pistol Grip & Candlebox show at the amphitheater tonight so I'll be giving it another chance.

[GenX]

I've never been to a show at The Astro and I can't say I'm particularly excited to either.

I'm going to be at the Virgin Mary Pistol Grip & Candlebox show at the amphitheater tonight so I'll be giving it another chance.

Candlebox… Haven’t heard about them in awhile.

[almighty_tuna]

Candlebox… Haven’t heard about them in awhile.

They did really well! The lead singer doesn't seem to have lost a bit of range; he can still belt it out.

[omaha79]

I've never been to a show at The Astro and I can't say I'm particularly excited to either. Every venue picture I've seen gives me a sterile manufactured vibe. The reviews on the sound are decidedly mixed. I get the impression that the experience varies widely by the type of show and set up which implies the adaptability isn't great.

I feel like any new venue is going to struggle with character. I don't know that Astro indoors has any less character than other recent built for modern concert venues like Slowdown or Steelhouse. They are what they are and mostly just big open spaces with bars and a stage. Very similar.

I have noticed the Astro sound quality has been hit or miss. and, I agree with the outdoor venue not being absolutely ideal and the noise caps and curfew rules aren't great. I'd still take the outdoor at Astro over Stir Concert cove though. Not a fan of Stir, or casinos in general. That's a truly manufactured enviornment.

[nebport5]

I've never been to a show at The Astro and I can't say I'm particularly excited to either. Every venue picture I've seen gives me a sterile manufactured vibe. The reviews on the sound are decidedly mixed. I get the impression that the experience varies widely by the type of show and set up which implies the adaptability isn't great.

I feel like any new venue is going to struggle with character. I don't know that Astro indoors has any less character than other recent built for modern concert venues like Slowdown or Steelhouse. They are what they are and mostly just big open spaces with bars and a stage. Very similar.

I have noticed the Astro sound quality has been hit or miss. and, I agree with the outdoor venue not being absolutely ideal and the noise caps and curfew rules aren't great. I'd still take the outdoor at Astro over Stir Concert cove though. Not a fan of Stir, or casinos in general. That's a truly manufactured enviornment.

It should go without saying that sound quality at any venue is subject to the sound engineers, yet I don't recall any shows with disappointing sound at Slowdown and that includes the front room. My only issue with Slowdown is the awkward placement of the bar and their mediocre selection with tiny glassware. I haven't been to that many shows at Steelhouse but have found the sound to be adequate thus far. As far as the general aesthetic environment of those venues, it would be unfair to compare them on "charm" level to say The Orpheum or even The Admiral but their modernness doesn't detract from the shows and obviously they far exceed in sound quality. I don't particularly agree that modern venues have to be fundamentally character challenged. Sure, many of them are but there are also a fair amount of them that get it enough right. I agree that Stir sucks as I'd prefer not to go to a show at a Casino either, but as far as the actual space I'd say it actually lacks "manufacturing" to be a proper venue.

I'll hold final judgment on The Astro until the timing works with shows I want to see. Still, besides the uneven sound complaints, people really seem to hate the chair seating. In regard to the asthetic vibe, it wasn't lost on the designers with the retro marque but the outdoor venue feels lost somewhere between a country club and a high school graduation assembly. Instead of building the mosquito pond that money could've been better spent on making a proper amphitheater with graduated seating.

At the risk of sounding like "Jobber's Canyon futility", I'll say I still miss the old Civic Music Hall. For a venue around 2,400 it would've fit nicely between The Admiral and Steelhouse. I can imagine how Omaha Performing Arts could have modernized the space. And FWIW, assuming the Civic site still ends up a mixed use community centric space having another anchor wouldn't have hurt either.

[Linkin5]

Agree 100% on the music hall. It is a shame they couldn’t find a way to salvage it.