Industry Noize: Lucas Behind New Indy Shed

The involvement of Lucas, who founded Sunshine Promotions and was the leading force behind what is known as Klipsch Music Center (formerly Deer Creek), gives the project a sudden injection of gravitas.

Lucas, who sold his promotion company to SFX in 1997 and briefly became president of Clear Channel Entertainment (now Live Nation) in 2002, shared details with the Indianapolis Star of what he calls “The Stamp” – which will be built on a former GM stamping plant.

Since leaving CCE, Lucas has reemerged with his own company, Lucas Entertainment Group.

He books primarily in the Indianapolis area, and operated booked the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta, Ga., from 2008-12. Lucas tells the paper that plans call for part of the historic GM plant to be retained and incorporated into the design of The Stamp, which would be a “glass-dominated” building more than 700 feet long and more than 40 feet high with a permanent stage, box office, concession stands, restrooms and backstage offices and dressing rooms, according to the Star.

“It actually costs us a lot more to keep part of (the plant),” Lucas told the paper. “But we think it will make the best-looking amphitheatre in the country.”

The project is expected to clock in at about $40 million and take up 102 acres in the city’s downtown – where Lucas originally wanted to put Deer Creek Music Center until political pressure to build it in the suburbs won out. “This opportunity will never present itself again,” Lucas told the paper. “The leaders of Indianapolis realize that now.” The Stamp will be bordered by the White River – and near the 8,000-capacity Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park — and sport a peaked, white Teflon canopy that will cover 7,000 pavilion seats.

A sloped lawn will be able to accommodate another 8,000. The Stamp, of course, will be in direct competition with his old place, now owned by Live Nation. He says that prospect doesn’t worry him, pointing to his successful operation of the shed outside Atlanta, where he competed with Chastain Park and Lakewood Amphitheatres.

But he may face another problem in opposition from White River State Park executive Robert Whitt, who has expressed opposition to a concert venue at the nearby GM plant site. And Live Nation in February reportedly pledged to invest $10 million in improvements at Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn, which plans an expansion from 7,500 capacity to at least 10,000 capacity, with as many as 5,000 seats under a pavilion, according to the Star.

Whitt told the paper the expansion project could be ready as early as 2016, the same time Lucas hopes to open The Stamp.

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