Red Hat Amphitheater could permanently close to save a single DTR block that sees hardly any traffic.
The future of Downtown Raleigh is at stake—and Red Hat Amphitheater sits at the center of it all.
While Red Hat was initially intended to be a temporary venue, the City has long planned to move and update the amphitheater to sustain the amount of traffic it attracts. The planned expansion would accommodate ~1,000 more seats and a larger loading dock and backstage area, as well as increased concessions—and the only “cost” of that expansion is the closure of one block of South Street—a road that sees just one-third of the traffic it was built for.
The proposed update has been in the works since city leaders agreed to shift Red Hat slightly southward in order to expand the Raleigh Convention Center. Now, as pushback mounts for the street closure, Red Hat’s—and Downtown’s—future is hanging in the balance. And if City Council doesn’t pass the proposed plans to expand it, Red Hat will be demolished for good—along with the millions of dollars in economic impact it brings, and the future viability of many DTR businesses.
“Red Hat is the one thing that brings people Downtown in large numbers consistently through the summer months,” emphasizes Crank Arm Brewing owner Adam Eckhardt. “If the amphitheater does not open in the current proposed location in Downtown Raleigh, many small businesses will close.”
Thus, major city players and business owners are vying for Red Hat’s survival for good reason. In 2023 alone, the amphitheater generated ~$17.5 million in economic impact from its 26 shows. This year, show offerings have more than doubled with a record-breaking 51 shows, yielding comparably greater financial impact with them. The absence of Red Hat would directly affect the shops, restaurants and bars who rely on foot traffic from locals and visitors alike attending those concerts all days of the week.
“State of Beer sees a big increase when there are shows,” says Trophy Brewing partner David Meeker, “and Trophy Brewing on Morgan Street sees a solid increase too, even though we are several blocks away.”
For her part, mayoral candidate Janet Cowell, also the CEO of the Dix Park Conservancy, has expressed concerns about the expansion because of the partial closure of South Street and how it would affect connections between Downtown and Dix Park. But some have expressed concerns that her push against Red Hat is centered around advocating for the proposed outdoor amphitheater at Dix Park, which is a “potential alternative to Downtown’s Red Hat Amphitheater,” according to the park’s master plan.
“The consequences for Red Hat Amphitheater leaving downtown would be devastating to many small businesses owners who rely on crowds pre- and post-shows all summer long. Our city leaders would be wise to reconsider the thought of moving something that creates such a large financial impact to small business owners, many of which won’t make it with a loss of that magnitude.” —Matt Coleman, owner, The Davie
However, it’s clear an amphitheater at Dix wouldn’t have the same economic impact for any district, much less Downtown—especially given the much-denounced lack of connectivity between DTR and Dix—and Raleigh already has a similar venue to the would-be Dix Park amphitheater (Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek), in addition to one in Cary (Koka Booth Amphitheatre).
“Many of our small businesses rely on [Red Hat] to get them through slower summer months and see their sales more than double on a concert evening versus a non-show night,” says Downtown Raleigh Alliance President/CEO Bill King. “Placing the amphitheater in the heart of Downtown has demonstrated how much more economic impact is possible for venues when they are surrounded by small businesses for patrons to visit before and after shows.”
Plus, Live Nation, Red Hat’s booking manager, isn’t going to wait around for a Dix Park amphitheater to get off the ground—meaning if Red Hat goes, many artists won’t make stops in Raleigh at all. Read: If Downtown doesn’t have an amphitheater to accommodate 7,500 guests, other cities will garner the economic benefit. “Live Nation… will skip us for Charlotte and Wilmington,” maintains Eckhardt. “Durham may even build an amphitheater of this size to accommodate.” So, not just a loss for Downtown, but for the city as whole.
Red Hat’s fate adds to a long list of concerns about the current state of Downtown Raleigh already being raised by local business owners. And potentially demolishing one of DTR’s only entertainment draws isn’t sitting well with those trying to up the district’s allure to save their businesses—and their livelihood.
“Red Hat Amphitheater is a fun draw for Downtown. The Canes are at PNC; DPAC and the Bulls are in Durham—so it’s really our only entertainment draw Downtown,” says Meeker. “A lot of our employees at our restaurants are young, 20–35 years old and have no kids yet, and the thing you hear constantly is that Raleigh is a boring place to be young. We need to change that, not lean into that. I hope Red Hat Amphitheater comes back bigger and better than ever, even if that means adjusting South Street.”
How to Help Save Red Hat
Right now it’s unclear if Raleigh City Council has the votes necessary to save Red Hat. If the proposed plans don’t pass by majority, Red Hat Amphitheater would be demolished for good. You can help save Red Hat—as well as multiple DTR businesses and Downtown’s livelihood—by reaching out to your city council member at emails listed below. Find your district here.
Mary Black, District A,
Megan Patton, District B,
Corey Branch, District C,
Jane Harrison, District D,
Christina Jones, District E,
Jonathan Melton, At-Large,
Stormie D. Forte, At-Large,
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