A new 6,200-seat outdoor amphitheater is planned for Cleveland’s riverfront, adjacent to the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, the training facility for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The project, announced Thursday by Bedrock and Rock Entertainment Group, will be operated by Live Nation and is slated to open in May 2028.
The venue represents the first large-scale music venue to be built in Cleveland in two decades, according to a statement released by the organizations. This proves a key component of Bedrock’s $3.5 billion “The Riverfront” development plan, which aims to revitalize 35 acres of land along the Cuyahoga River.
“This outdoor amphitheater on the Cuyahoga River will be a dynamic community gathering place and a strategic investment in downtown Cleveland’s growing experience-driven economy,” said Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group, who also oversees Bedrock’s strategic direction in Cleveland.
Bedrock has contracted DLR Group, a local architecture firm, to lead the design of the amphitheater, with support from Live Nation’s in-house design and development group, Blueprint Studio. The design will prioritize both capacity for national touring acts and an intimate artist-audience connection, according to a press release.
The project is part of a broader $1 billion investment by Live Nation in mixed-use development music venues, many positioned near sports facilities. The amphitheater will be located near the under-construction Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, designed by Populous, which is expected to be operational next year. Future phases of The Riverfront development include a Cosm location slated for summer 2027, mixed-income housing, and a 3,000-foot public riverwalk.
Rock Entertainment Group, formed in 2021, owns and operates the Cleveland Cavaliers, the city’s forthcoming WNBA franchise debuting in 2028, the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, and the G League Cleveland Charge. The group also manages Rocket Arena and the Rock Entertainment Sports Network.
Bedrock, the real estate investment company owned by Dan Gilbert, has invested $7.5 billion in real estate primarily in Cleveland and Detroit. Dan Whalen is leading the project for Bedrock. The amphitheater is projected to generate $59 million in economic impact annually, according to Bedrock.
In addition to the amphitheater, a temporary professional-size basketball court is being installed at the corner of East 4th Street and Huron Road in the Meet Me Here Plaza. The court will include seating, a banner commemorating the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 Championship season, and decorative planters.
Mayor Justin M. Bibb stated, “A new outdoor music venue along the Cuyahoga riverfront reflects the type of resident and visitor experience that we want here in Downtown Cleveland. The amphitheater will add a vibrant destination for entertainment and culture, helping to strengthen downtown, drive economic impact and advance our shore-to-core-to-shore strategy.”