Riverfront Park, the city of Wilmington’s 6.6-acre park and amphitheater, is slated to officially open July 4.
 
Ahead of its debut, Amy Beatty, community services director with the city, joined Wilmington BizTalk on Wednesday to discuss the path to build the downtown project, its potential impacts and the city’s deal with Live Nation to run the amphitheater.

Beatty pointed out that two of the three apartment developments around the park's fringes that opened in recent years were announced after the city put out plans for the park project. Wilmington City Council approved the park's master plan in 2017.

"And there are two parcels remaining," Beatty said about surrounding land. "Those two parcels on either side are going to go under construction in early August, and so that is going to be another residential building on the parcel next to the river. The other parcel is going to be a parking garage that's going to serve those residents, and we're also in talks with the developer about shared parking for concertgoers there as well."

"Outside of direct construction surrounding the project, we're also going to see the economic benefit of more folks coming to Wilmington to see shows and Wilmingtonians spending more of their money in Wilmington versus having to drive to Charlotte or Raleigh for a concert," Beatty added.

She said that Live Nation, which is managing the amphitheater, has filled all of its 20 slots for shows allowed under its contract at the venue -- Beatty said some additional acts are still yet to be announced. And a few others could be added if the city manager approves that.

The venue seats 7,200 people -- 2,400 in temporary, fixed seating and 4,800 for lawn seating.

Estimates for the amphitheater's first season were 80,000 people during the project's design phase, Beatty said. Based on the number of tickets already sold or projected to still sell, that has gone up to 130,000 attendees for the season.

"Live Nation knew that this market was going to be a good one," she said. "That's why they invested in it, but they've said the response has even surprised them."
 
The $35 million park is the focus of the cover story in the latest issue of the WilmingtonBiz Magazine, out already to Business Journal subscribers and available online today. Here’s a look at the cover story.

View the full BizTalk conversation below. Also listen to this and future weekly WilmingtonBiz Talk discussions on the Business Journal's new podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.