AMP provides more details about possible Rogers move

A design concept for a permanent Rogers home for the Arkansas Music Pavilion
A design concept for a permanent Rogers home for the Arkansas Music Pavilion

The Walton Arts Center Council has released more details about a possible move to Rogers. The plan calls for an $11 million permanent facility in the Pinnacle Hills area, according to a news release.

Full release:

WAC Council to discuss plans for a permanent outdoor amphitheater in NWA

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (May 23, 2013) – Walton Arts Center Council will meet Tuesday, May 28 at 4:30pm in Starr Theater to discuss plans to construct an $11M permanent amphitheater in Northwest Arkansas. For a preview of the permanent AMP design concept, visit AMP DROPBOX.

During the 2013 summer concert season, music fans can travel to Atlanta to sit under the stars at Chastain Park and see Harry Connick, Jr. or Martina McBride. The Pistol Annies will play Oklahoma City. A Mumford and Sons concert can round out a weekend visiting Dallas. A permanent AMP with upgraded amenities will change the entertainment landscape of the region and position Northwest Arkansas alongside these major metropolitan concert destinations.

In a Quality of Life Survey released in April by the Walton Family Foundation, 67% of respondents cited a permanent outdoor amphitheater as the number one quality of life amenity for Northwest Arkansas. “Having a permanent amphitheater in Northwest Arkansas is critical for the development of our region,” said Peter Lane, President and CEO of Walton Arts Center. “When we lost our lease at the Northwest Arkansas Mall for the AMP in 2011 and moved to the Fairgrounds, we showed what could happen in a larger space. Our attendance grew by 93% - from 23,000 patrons to almost 45,000 in one year. A permanent venue and upgraded production capabilities will allow us to meet the growing audience demand, as well as the tour requirements to be a national competitor on the summer concert circuit.”

Jeff Schomburger, Chair of the Walton Arts Center board noted, “The board leadership has been working with the staff on the concept of a permanent amphitheater for the past three years. It is part of our regional, multi-campus expansion strategy. As a business leader in Northwest Arkansas, I am competing with Cincinnati, Chicago and Dallas for top talent. We have to be able to provide the same kind of entertainment and cultural offerings. The AMP is a key part of that strategy, along with our ongoing design work on the expansion of Walton Arts Center, scheduled to break ground later this year, and the subsequent construction of a 2000-seat theater in Bentonville. Northwest Arkansas is set to be a cultural and entertainment leader in the Mid-South and beyond.”

During the 2012 summer AMP season, nearly 35% of concert attendees came from outside Washington and Benton County. “The potential for economic impact due to tourism is significant,” added Lane. “People travel for summer concerts. On average, visitors spend $36 around the area when they attend a concert; out-of-towners spend more. A new AMP will increase tourism spending in our region.”

On Tuesday, May 28, the board will discuss a proposal to locate a new 6000+ seat amphitheater just off I-540 in the Pinnacle Hills area of Rogers. Specifics on the location and the design will be discussed at the meeting, but preliminary plans include significant patron and artist amenities such as covered seating for 3000 people, a well-equipped permanent stage house, a location with multiple access points off the interstate and in a vibrant business district centrally located to serve the growing region.

If the board approves the proposal on Tuesday, construction is expected to begin this summer, with the goal of opening the venue in June 2014. “There is a lot of community excitement around this project,” said Lane. “We already have commitments for 91% of the $11M needed to construct the new facility. This kind of support will allow us to move forward immediately, while also remaining focused on planning and design for the expansion of the Walton Arts Center’s Dickson Street campus.”

The Arkansas Music Pavilion – known locally as the AMP – is Northwest Arkansas’ premiere outdoor concert venue. The AMP has presented headlining concerts for the past nine years, including the best of every genre – from rock and country to electronica and pop. The AMP has been a Walton Arts Center venue since February 2011 and is currently at Washington County Fairgrounds.

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