Concert Stuff Group CEO Jim Brammer Proposes New Amphitheater For Winston-Salem, NC

From outfitting venues to building one, Concert Stuff Group CEO Jim Brammer is part of a joint venture with Flow Automotive CEO Don Flow to construct a new 5,000-cap amphitheater in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“For decades, our work at CSG has taken us all over the globe – outfitting venues, building stages and creating spaces where unforgettable moments come to life,” says Brammer. “But there’s something deeply special about bringing that experience home. Winston-Salem isn’t just part of the community where I live, it’s where I grew up, built my career and learned what community really means.”

Leaders of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership announced this week that the outdoor venue on a vacant lot between a church and Benton Convention Center could open as early as spring 2026.

“Winston-Salem has a rich history of bringing music and arts to the Triad,” adds Brammer. “With this venue, we look to reinvigorate these programs and engage the younger generations. To take everything we’ve learned over the years and pour it into a world-class venue right in downtown Winston-Salem is more than a project – it’s a passion.”

Construction of the amphitheater is pending approval by the Winston-Salem City Council for street closures during events at the facility and for the leasing of an adjacent one-acre undeveloped parcel owned by the City of Winston-Salem that would be used as a back-of-house operations facility by the amphitheater. No public funds, tax breaks or incentives are being requested for the amphitheater, and there will be no debt on any of the improvements.

The amphitheater site is owned by Flow and the project is a privately funded joint venture by Flow and Brammer. Bucky Dame, former director of public assembly facilities for the City of Winston-Salem, is slated to serve as president and general manager of the amphitheater.

“This unimaginable opportunity to partner with Jim is a gift. Jim’s expertise and his worldwide relationships in the industry combined with his deep love for Winston-Salem would serve well as the catalyst for enabling the Winston-Salem amphitheater to immediately host extraordinary events attracting thousands of people downtown,” says Flow in a statement. “Additionally, with Bucky Dame as the president and general manager, we would have a leader who is deeply knowledgeable about our community and who has overseen concert venues and music festivals all over the U.S.”

The amphitheater would be a key component of the 10-year Downtown Winston-Salem Plan, which was adopted by the Winston Salem City Council and the City-County Planning Board in 2023.

“This project is more than building a venue – it’s about igniting economic growth, attracting top-tier talent and creating a downtown destination that will bring people together for years to come,” explains Brammer. “Partnering with Don Flow, whose commitment to Winston-Salem has no equal, ensures that this venue will be a lasting symbol of what’s possible when local visionaries come together for the benefit of the community. I’m honored that I can bring the collective resources of CSG together with Don, to put Winston-Salem on the map in a new way, and I can’t wait to see the energy and excitement this venue will bring to our hometown.”

Early on, the Planning Committee of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership established a Downtown Amphitheater Subcommittee, which was tasked with learning more about amphitheaters in other communities, determining the feasibility of an outdoor amphitheater in downtown Winston-Salem and exploring potential sites. The committee identified Flow’s lot as a prime location. When completed, the proposed amphitheater would generate an estimated $50,000 a year in property taxes for the city.

“Before planning began, the Amphitheater Subcommittee looked closely at similar venues – particularly Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh – for information about construction, adaptability, operations and parking,” stated Jason Thiel, president of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership. “If approved by the City Council, our amphitheater will spark and sustain downtown vitality by bringing large groups together to enjoy downtown Winston-Salem and support a wide range of downtown businesses, including restaurants, retailers, hotels and the Benton Convention Center.”

Thiel adds that in addition to bringing highly diverse national touring acts to the amphitheater, it will be available for community performances and events, including the Winston-Salem Symphony, the International Black Theatre Festival and local universities.

“We are hopeful that this proposed project will move forward as it will be an excellent demand generator for downtown Winston-Salem and a wonderful community asset,” states Stewart Holmes, Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership Planning Committee chair.  “The amphitheater project would be 100% privately funded, and the city will gain enormous economic impact from parking, sales tax and room tax with no additional investment and no incentives.”