High Point Venue Plan

That parking lot is where High Point Market stages its “Stars Under the Stars” concerts. Scott Eckman, executive VP for marketing and furniture leasing with International Market Centers, told the News & Record of Greensboro the company is trying to determine whether there is a demand.

The idea of an outdoor venue has been discussed for about a year as a way to improve the market experience and possibly give the city a spot to host events. The International Market Centers’ parking lot could hold about 4,000 people if turned into a venue, according to Eckman.

Doug Bassett, chairman of the High Point Market Authority’s board of directors, said a venue would be a significant benefit to the furniture market and the city. “However, the devil is in the details,” Bassett told the News & Record. “And the acts that we bring in for the entertainment at market have certain requirements about the size of the stage and the layout and the various needs they have for electrical.”

Bassett said that renting the stages and equipment as is done now allows it to tailor the event to the individual performer, but those details could be addressed if the project moves forward, the paper reported.