FINISH LINE IN SIGHT FOR HARBOR YARD VENUE
Developers say it’s only a matter of time before concertgoers are enjoying live music at the Harbor Yard Amphitheater.
“We are excited to bring this stateoftheart amphitheater to the banks of the (Long Island) Sound in Bridgeport,” said project principal Howard Saffan in news release touting the ongoing transformation of the former Bridgeport Bluefish stadium into a regional entertainment destination.
The amphitheater has been taking form over the past 18 months since Saffan and city officials broke ground in July 2018. Now, the $15 million boutique outdoor concert venue is expected to open in the summer.
“We know the facility will exceed everyone’s expectations,” Saffan said.
The 5,500seat facility is slated to draw 250,000 people a year, based on previous projections in the earlier phases of development. It’s expected to host more than 20 concerts and events underneath a tensile membrane fabric roof.
Live Nation will serve as the primary promoter for the amphitheater.
“We look forward to giving great artists the opportunity to play this amazing venue in Connecticut,” said Jim Koplik, president of Live Nation Connecticut and Upstate New York, in a news release.
While Live Nation hasn’t announced show dates or performers yet, a social media post from HYA said the group is “close to announcing our first show for CT’s newest top entertainment destination.”
“Happy New Year! May your 2020 be filled with many concerts and getting amped up,” read a Thursday post on the venue’s Facebook page, which has been chronicling the construction of the project.
HYA announced in August that it was partnering with Philadelphiabased Aramark to manage the concert venue’s food and beverage services.
Aramark will be responsible for general concessions, clubs, suites and onsite catering as well as special events.
“Aramark is the perfect fit,” Saffan said in a previous news
release. “The Aramark team understands the need for quality, service and innovation, while focusing on locally sourced suppliers.”
The venue will also partner with
local businesses like Stratfordbased Donut Crazy and Two Roads Brewing Co.
Two Road’s CEO Brad Hittle told Hearst Connecticut Media that he and his team are excited to have his brand attached to the venue as a craft beer sponsor.
“We think it’s an awesome venue,” Hittle said. “It is certainly
really important for us to be there because it is in our backyard.”
Other brands that have been associated with the incoming venue include Rita’s Italian Ice in Shelton, Timothy’s Ice Cream in Bridgeport and Fairfield Greenwich Cheese Co.
Along with a revamping the entertainment scene in downtown
Bridgeport, the amphitheater has also been touted by officials as a job maker for the city with approximately 1,246 full and parttime positions at the venue.
The project is a joint venture between the City of Bridgeport and Harbor Yard Amphitheater. The city will receive a minimum rent of $150,000 or $3 per ticket annually.
“Harbor Yard Amphitheater will be the focus of our entertainment district and along with Webster Bank Arena will make Bridgeport the premier entertainment hub in the region,” said Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim in a news release.