It’s decided, folks. After a city council vote, Red Hat Amphitheater will remain downtown. As part of the Raleigh Convention Center’s plans for expansion, Red Hat Amphitheater is planning to move one block south and expand by 1,000 seats.
Originally built in 2010 as a temporary venue, Red Hat Amphitheater is set to move by 2026 to 205 W. Lenoir St. and increase its capacity from 6,000 to 7,000 with additional backstage space and concession areas; the move will also permanently shut down the adjacent block of South Street.
If the amphitheater were to shut down or move out of downtown, there may have been a significant economic impact — the venue’s 2023 shows reportedly generated $17.5 million for the city. Plus, many downtown businesses rely on shows + events like Crank Arm Brewing, who told The News & Observer they see business double to triple on event days.
According to a city staff memo to the Raleigh City Council, without a venue the size of Red Hat, acts + artists would skip Raleigh entirely in favor of Wilmington and Charlotte. Plus, venues like Koka Booth and a potential Dix Park amphitheater might not be able to absorb the totality of Red Hat’s traffic.
