This year, Minneapolis leaders hope the stage is set to move forward with the city's first amphitheater, the centerpiece in a large-scale transformation of 48 acres of riverfront in the North Side.
With an estimated cost of $49 million and capacity for 10,000 concertgoers, the amphitheater would host some of the world's biggest artists and become a national destination, say city officials and First Avenue Productions, which would run the venue.
To make it happen, the city is lobbying the Legislature for $20 million in bonds, arguing that it would be an asset to all of Minnesota.
"This is just a really critical investment to north Minneapolis," Council Member Phillipe Cunningham, who represents the area, said last week. "For us to really get the economic, catalytic effect of Upper Harbor, we need to see that investment in this concert venue."
City leaders have called the Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment their top capital priority, and the amphitheater their top bonding priority, for this session. The venue was not listed in DFL Gov. Tim Walz's $2 billion state bonding package this month, which was focused on state infrastructure and public safety projects and which Republicans already criticized as being too costly.
Now, the city's lobbyists and representatives are relying on the House and Senate to approve their bonding request. They need to walk a fine line, pitching the benefits the venue could bring not only to the North Side but to the state as a whole, said Gene Ranieri, the city's chief lobbyist.
"It would provide for the region an outdoor music venue that we don't have now and other places do," Ranieri said. "Hopefully it would be a draw to help the North Side, the whole neighborhood, see some development."
Meanwhile, community leaders continue to express skepticism of the amphitheater's benefits. Members of an advisory committee shared concerns following a presentation last week from First Avenue, including who would own the venue and whether sound barriers would need to be installed.
