Mayor shares first look at 'Long Beach Bowl' seaside amphitheater
The music venue “offering unforgettable experiences” is slated to open this fall next to the Queen Mary, according to Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson.
The long-discussed seaside amphitheater with seats for 10,000 to 12,000 people and a stage backed by the Downtown Long Beach skyline is slated to open adjacent to the Queen Mary this fall, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson announced during his third annual State of the City address Tuesday.
Richardson first announced the facility, which is supposed to be temporary until a permanent venue can be funded and built, during the same event in January 2024. At the time, the venue was expected to have between 8,000 and 10,000 seats.
“This facility will become a centerpiece for live performances […], offering unforgettable experiences for residents and visitors while supporting our local small restaurants, shops and businesses who will benefit from increased foot-traffic before and after major concerts,” Richardson said Tuesday night.
City officials did not immediately respond to questions regarding when construction will begin, how much the facility will cost or how it will be funded. It also is unclear how frequent events will be once operations begin and if the city has begun work toward creating a permanent amphitheater.
During Tuesday's event, Long Beach native Warren G took to the stage to boast of the city's musical legacy.
"Long Beach is a breeding ground for talent and creatives," Warren G said. "There's something in the water, y'all. I don't know what it is."
The city has produced numerous musical acts, including Snoop Dogg, Sublime, War, Jenni Rivera and more.
The venue will fill a hole left in the wake of the abrupt closure of Irvine’s 12,000-seat FivePoint Amphitheatre in October 2023. FivePoint was also a temporary facility, which remained open for six years before shuttering.
The region’s other notable outdoor amphitheaters are the Greek Theatre and the Hollywood Bowl, which have capacities of 5,900 and 17,500, respectively.
The indoor Long Beach Arena, meanwhile, has a capacity of 13,500. The venue has a rich musical history, having welcomed major artists such as Elvis Presley, Elton John, Black Sabbath, Metallica and Prince in the 1970s and ‘80s. The space has shifted away from music over the years, however, in favor of being utilized for conventions and other events.
In his remarks, Richardson said it is time for the Arena to get back to its musical roots.
"It's time we reinvigorate our Long Beach Arena and restore it as the center of the region's music scene," Richardson said.
To accomplish that task, Richardson said he is encouraging City Manager Tom Modica to begin negotiations with ASM Global, which operates the facility, for a public-private partnership to revamp the Arena with a new stage and sound system and VIP suites. The venue would be set up to accommodate large and small shows, Richardson said.
The first renderings of the venue show it set back from the water’s edge, with surface parking between the stage and water. Similar to FivePoint, the concessions and seating areas are situated behind the venue.
U.S.-based hospitality and events company Legends and Los Angeles-based venue and event management company ASM Global have been tapped to operate the venue following a “competitive bidding process,” Richardson announced. Legends acquired ASM Global in late 2023.
It’s unclear how many bids the city received to operate the music venue.
ASM Global also operates the Long Beach Convention Center, including the Terrace Theater and Long Beach Arena, all of which are owned by the city. ASM is currently embattled in a labor dispute with service workers at the facility.
The contract for the unionized cooks, bartenders and servers at the convention center and associated venues expired in September and negotiations have stalled over the company’s use of subcontractors.
“ASM is subcontracting our work to companies that do not provide the same job protections and benefits, and undermining our contract,” according to Unite Here Local 11, which represents the workers.
On Sunday, 85% of the 150 workers voted to authorize a strike. While a strike has yet to begin, workers were outside the convention center on a picket line as guests arrived for the State of the City event.
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