RALEIGH -- After years of talk and a few frantic months of construction, the new Raleigh Downtown Amphitheater (also known as The Amphitheater Perhaps Soon To Be Called Bud Light) is finally open for business. Gates open at 5 p.m. today for a free open house preview featuring seven local acts.
Th' Bullfrog Willard McGhee will be the first band to play there; as they did in 1991 at Walnut Creek, the Connells will close the show.
The first ticketed show happens Sunday. It's the Backstreet Boys - one of 12 Live Nation-booked shows on the schedule. Live Nation will probably do three to six more shows there this year.
While this evening's shakedown cruise won't be the last free show at the 5,500-capacity venue, no other freebies are confirmed yet. They're contingent on the Bud Light sponsorship deal going through, because that's where the money will come from.
Down the road, other coming events include live theater with "Rent" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," a bluegrass festival and ballet.
Here's what you need to know going in. For more details, check raleighconvention.com/amphitheater.
Parking
After 5 p.m., downtown street parking is free but will fill up fast. Event parking is $7 per car in one of four nearby garages: Wake County, across from the convention center; the Progress Energy Center garage; the Cabarrus Street garage (on Salisbury Street); and the Marriott garage under the hotel. Those garages have a capacity of about 4,000 spaces. Downtown commuters hoping to avoid concert traffic should look for alternatives to Dawson, McDowell, Cabarrus and Lenoir streets.
Ticketing
No tickets are necessary for this evening's free show, but they will be for other concerts. The day-of-show box office is at Cabarrus and McDowell streets. For in-person advance-ticket purchases at other times, use the box office at Progress Energy Center or Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek. Order online at livenation.com, or by phone at 831-6400.
Entering
The box office is adjacent to the main gate. There are two other gates, both on Lenoir. Gate No. 2 is at McDowell, while gate No. 3 is at Dawson.
Capacity is 5,500 people, about 1,000 of whom will fit on the sloped lawn at the back. On the concrete in front of that are 1,800 fixed seats and room for up to 2,700 movable seats.
What's allowed
Don't bring umbrellas, chairs, professional cameras, recording devices, weapons, drugs, alcohol, skates, skateboards, fireworks, baby strollers, food or drink. Allowed: beach towels, small backpacks, small blankets and one factory-sealed bottle of water per person. Smoking is allowed in restricted areas only.
What you can get
There should be a full run of concessions at the debut show, although it's still a work in progress. The city has hooked up with Empire Eats as food partner for the venue, which means you should be able to get a Raleigh Times burger or a Sitti falafel there.
Show schedule
Today Connells, I Was Totally Destroying It, MOSADI, Old Avenue, Sleep Control, Small Ponds, Th' Bullfrog Willard McGhee
Sunday Backstreet Boys
July 16 Gov't Mule, Jackie Greene
July 23 Paramore, Tegan & Sara, New Found Glory
July 25 Shinedown, Puddle of Mudd, Chevelle
July 28 Slightly Stoopid, Cypress Hill
July 30 Chelsea Handler
July 31 Barenaked Ladies, Ben Kweller, Angel Taylor
Aug. 10 O.A.R., Citizen Cope
Aug. 13 Umphrey's McGee, Rebelution
Aug. 14 Heart
Aug. 25 Sound Tribe Sector 9
Sept. 17 Black Crowes
