Construction Is a Go on $21.3M Long Beach Amphitheater

Photo Credit: Levan Badzgaradze

Long Beach begins construction on the much-anticipated $21.3 million waterfront amphitheater, with acts like Mötley Crüe and Toto already booked.

Long Beach broke ground this week on its highly anticipated amphitheater, a $21.3 million outdoor entertainment venue due to open this summer to host artists including 80s legends Mötley Crüe and Toto. The temporary venue is designed to run for an initial 10-year period while the City of Long Beach decides on a permanent plan.

The 11,000-seat amphitheater is a significant part of Mayor Rex Richardson’s outline to introduce more tourism and entertainment to replace the city’s declining oil industry. Richardson also hopes to secure Long Beach’s position as a music destination.

“What this project is really about is recognizing what live music, what gathering, what experiences mean; these are the moments that we remember,” said Mayor Richardson during the groundbreaking event. “Long Beach is building a place where those moments can happen here at home. The amphitheater represents direction to invest in our city’s future, to embrace our creative economy, and to shape how people experience Long Beach for generations to come.”

The Long Beach Amphitheater will feature grandstands 36 feet high, facing a 51-foot high stage backdropped by the city’s skyline. Project planners estimate the venue will host over 300,000 people across more than 100 shows in its first few years.

The city has a contract with venue management company Legends, formerly ASM Global, to run the amphitheater. The contract includes a $15,000 monthly consulting fee until the venue opens, as well as a $300,000 annual fee thereafter. Further, the company gets an 18% commission on the sale of naming rights, and the opportunity to make money on concessions.

Long Beach has already secured over $11 million in sponsorships to date, which ensures that more than half of the construction costs are covered by public-private partnerships. The Port of Long Beach is supporting these efforts and is the official founding partner on the project.

“The port and the city are deeply connected by this waterfront,” said Noel Hacegaba, CEO of the Port of Long Beach. “It’s where Long Beach’s economic strength, cultural identity, and global reach intersect, and this amphitheater represents a new chapter in how shared space serves a community, expanding the waterfront beyond infrastructure to include gathering and celebration.”

Besides the venue itself, there are also plans for a shuttle service, water taxi services, and dedicated ride share amenities to enhance transportation options for attendees, including a partnership with Long Beach Transit.