Cleveland Gets a New Riverfront Stage

The city of Cleveland is about to welcome a fresh 6, 200‑seat outdoor music venue that will sit below Tower City Center and the Rocket Arena. The project is part of a larger $3. 5 billion Riverfront plan that already includes the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, a facility for the Cavaliers’ practice sessions and advanced athlete care. Construction on the amphitheater is slated to start in March or April, with a grand opening expected in May 2028. The new stage is set to host roughly 30 to 50 concerts and events each year, operating under a partnership with Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter. The venue will feature open seating that overlooks both the Cuyahoga River and downtown Cleveland, with a covered stage but uncovered seats. Access will be improved by the forthcoming Eagle Avenue bridge that will link the arena and baseball fields to the riverfront development.Alongside the amphitheater, Bedrock and Rock Entertainment are building a bar‑restaurant called Cosm on the riverfront. Designed to feel like a stadium, it will use immersive tech and a huge screen to create an engaging atmosphere. The combined effort aims to turn the stretch from Progressive Field and Rocket Arena all the way to the river into a lively, almost 24‑hour entertainment hub that could draw up to five million visitors annually. The announcement follows Mayor Justin Bibb’s praise that the new venue will boost downtown culture, stimulate economic activity, and support the city’s shore‑to‑core strategy. While some local musicians worry that Cleveland already has enough venues, the amphitheater will compete with existing spots like the 5, 000‑seat Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica. Live Nation’s Ohio president highlighted that the new outdoor space will help attract big‑name tours and honor Cleveland’s musical heritage. The Riverfront project will eventually include commercial, retail, residential areas and more than 12 acres of green space with plazas and river trails. Details will be announced later in the year, but construction progress is already underway, signaling that the city’s plans are moving forward.