Developer says that amphitheater could be centerpiece of The Bend
Rendering of a potential design of The Bend’s proposed amphitheater as shown to the Chattanooga Industrial Board Monday (From: City of Chattanooga)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A survey conducted by Chattanooga Tourism Company in late 2024 indicated that Chattanoogans are having to leave town to attend roughly three out of every four concerts, many of those in neighboring cities like Atlanta or Nashville.
One of the key reasons why that study says the Scenic City struggles to get top tier concerts is because of the lack of a suitable music venue.
However, it seems that could soon be changing.
Urban Story Ventures CEO Jimmy White, who was in front of Chattanooga’s Industrial Development Board on Monday, told them, “What I will say is we have a PSA (Purchase Sale Agreement) for a 12,500 seat amphitheater at The Bend.”
That agreement is what White says will be the centerpiece of the future retail, residential, and entertainment district off Riverfront Parkway as he describes the potential amphitheater as, “State of the art, first class, will be the flagship (of an unnamed company) on the East Coast.”
White said he had to wait to announce more specific details on this amphitheater due to non-disclosure agreements.
Renderings shown to the Industrial Development Board seem to indicate the amphitheater would be close to the riverfront.
This comes as White says he has finished infrastructure work ahead of schedule, as he told city councilmembers last week he was not required to finish that until April 2027.
Jimmy White said, “We have probably $750 million worth of vertical (building) right now (set to be built). It depends now as far as those announcements, they are traded companies so we have to work with their PR team. Gotta work with our PR team, but it’s happening.”
The topic of an amphitheater has been discussed for some time, as a Chattanooga Tourism Company study recommended that such a music venue be built.
However, the over 12-thousand capacity dwarfs the 6,000 capacity they had recommended.
Barry White, the former CEO and President of the Chattanooga Tourism Company, had previously told the Hamilton County Commission that, “The Music Venue Needs Assessment makes the case for an amphitheater to accommodate 6,000 people. That will not only drive visitation, but also enhance the lifestyle of our residents.”
Competing amphitheaters in Huntsville, Nashville, and the Atlanta metro tend to hold 6-8,000 people, meaning Chattanooga’s would be nearly double the size.
Members of the Industrial Development Board, who approved an over one hundred million dollar tax increment financing (TIF) district for The Bend, say while they are excited to hear future details, they still feel many of these developments have happened without their input.
One member, Melody Shekari, said, “I’m asking at this point is for commitment moving forward that there is better communication. That there’s consistent communication and that it’s with this particular body.”
White says he expects to begin making major announcements related to these projects with more specific details over the next few weeks.
