Mentor Rocks wraps up with record crowds

Survey indicates ‘ripple effect’ on economy

The final show, a tribute to Paul McCartney, capped the city amphitheater’s third summer season.

Summer seems to have flown by, and with it the Mentor Rocks concert series.

The final show, a tribute to Paul McCartney on Aug. 27, capped the city amphitheater’s third summer season.

The fall will feature Saturday movie nights into mid-October, a Celtic Fest Sept. 20-22 and the Rotary Funky Winkerbean 5K race Oct. 13.

Total summer attendance at the Amp is estimated at more than 100,000 people — a conservative number, said Community Relations Administrator Ante Logarusic. Estimates are made by counting groups from the drone view.

The biggest draws were Queen Nation and Escape, tribute bands attracting roughly 11,000 people each. That is about 3,500 more than the top draws in the previous two seasons.

The weather is a huge factor as well as the popularity of the band being portrayed, and it affected shows including The McCartney Years and country artist Darryl Worley on June 15.

“(He) gave an outstanding performance,” Logarusic said. “Unfortunately, there was a steady rain all day long, which ended up breaking right before showtime.”

The turnout for a new event, Mentor AMPed, featuring three of Northeast Ohio’s top up-and-coming acts, also was a disappointment.

There were only about 200 people in attendance, which Logarusic called “an absolute shame.”

The season will be assessed over the winter and a list of potential acts assembled by the city’s selection committee.

“We look at hundreds of bands and we try to ensure that there is a little something for everyone within the rock spectrum,” he said.

A survey conducted last year netted more than 400 responses and gave a peek into the impact the Amp is having.

• 67 percent had been to six or more Mentor Rocks shows

• 75 percent attended in groups of three or more

• 99.3 percent would come again

• 53.7 percent ate at a local restaurant before or after a show

• 57.1 percent attended another Mentor event as a result of Mentor Rocks

• 35.8 percent attended another Lake County event as a result of Mentor Rocks

“Our food vendors certainly benefit, but there is a ripple effect,” Logarusic said. “We promote other events at our venue. We have distributed roughly 7,500 Mentor Visitor Guides this summer, which list shopping, dining and activities in the city. We also work closely with the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau to help promote everything that Lake County has to offer.”

The city spent $2.5 million building the amphitheater and budgets about $200,000 annually to fund the entertainment. Admission is free.

COURTESY OF THE CITY OF MENTOR Journey tribute band Escape drew one of the largest crowds at Mentor Civic Amphitheater in 2019. The group performed Aug. 24 during Mentor CityFest.

COURTESY OF THE CITY OF MENTOR Queen Nation tribute band drew one of the largest crowds at Mentor Civic Amphitheater in 2019.