Long Beach officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday morning to kick off construction of a new waterfront amphitheater that will be built near the Queen Mary.
The parking lot next to the iconic ship will be converted into what city officials are touting as the largest waterfront amphitheater on the West Coast.
It’s simply named the Long Beach Amphitheater. When finished, it will have a capacity of 12,000 — 11,000 seats and an area for 1,000 fans to stand.
“This is designed to pay for itself, with no operating costs coming from the city,” Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica said.
The cost to build it is estimated at $21 million dollars.
It’s taken two-and-a-half years of planning to get to this point. The money to pay for the new venue will come from a fund that collects fees from permits to use waterfront facilities near and around the Queen Mary.
Mayor Rex Richardson said the project is part of a larger plan to grow Long Beach. He said it will bring people and the world to enjoy the best of the city.
No exact date has been given for when construction of the amphitheater will be complete. However, Christopher Cross and Toto have scheduled a concert for the new venue in August. Motley Crue is set to play at the venue in September.
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