Live Nation, with a long history in Cleveland, will operate the 6,200-person waterfront venue
February 26, 2026 [Cleveland, OH] — Bedrock and Rock Entertainment Group will bring an outdoor amphitheater to downtown Cleveland as part of its transformational development on The Riverfront. The 6,200-seat entertainment venue will be operated under an agreement with Live Nation, which has a long history of promoting live entertainment in Cleveland, to host concerts, festivals and other events. Adjacent to the Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, the amphitheater amplifies Bedrock’s vision to create an active waterfront destination with publicly accessible, open space for the community in downtown Cleveland.
“This outdoor amphitheater on the Cuyahoga River will be a dynamic community gathering place and a strategic investment in downtown Cleveland’s growing experience-driven economy,” said Nic Barlage, Rock Entertainment Group CEO who oversees Bedrock’s strategic direction in Cleveland. “In partnership with global powerhouse Live Nation, we will deliver a new premier venue that draws visitors, vitality and economic development to the urban core and continues our transformation of the riverfront into an active, energized destination.”
Part of a burgeoning entertainment ecosystem in Cleveland, the proposed amphitheater will showcase a range of performances across genres, from national headliners to global touring acts and local artists. Capitalizing on exceptional seasonal views of the Cuyahoga River and city skyline, the venue is projected to attract thousands of annual visitors to the city center, generating nearly $59M in economic impact. The first new large music venue to be built in Cleveland in more than 20 years, it will fill a void in the market and reinforce the city’s position as a music capital of the world.
“Cleveland has always been one of America’s great music cities, and this amphitheater is about raising the bar to match that legacy,” said Live Nation Ohio Market President Michael Belkin “By creating a modern, leading outdoor venue on the riverfront, we’re giving artists another reason to play Cleveland, giving fans more of the shows they want close to home. This investment not only honors the city’s rock ‘n’ roll roots, it positions Cleveland to compete with other regional markets for the biggest tours in the country.”
Bedrock has enlisted local architecture firm DLR Group as the lead designer for the amphitheater with support from Blueprint Studio, Live Nation’s in-house design and development group. Designed for both energy and intimacy, the venue will be big enough for national touring acts while maintaining an artist-audience connection.
The project is a component of The Riverfront—a catalytic plan to reimagine 35 acres of underutilized land along the Cuyahoga River and historic Tower City. Development on The Riverfront is well underway; Bedrock has advanced major infrastructure and site work along the waterfront and the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center is fully enclosed and will be operational next year.
Bedrock and Rock Entertainment Group’s plans for The Riverfront, Tower City and Rock Block are part of a larger focus to expedite an experience-driven economy in Cleveland. This includes the riverfront amphitheater and anticipated unveilings of Cosm Cleveland, the Cavs’ Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, mixed-income residential options, a 3,000-foot publicly accessible riverwalk and more. The Riverfront is an integral component of City of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s transformational Shore-to-Core-to-Shore (SCS) development plan. The SCS connects Cleveland’s core Downtown Business District and Neighborhood to its two waterfronts—the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie through a series of urban spaces, parks, streets and plazas.