Minnesota Amphitheatre Proposed

Preliminary designs for the amphitheater were presented Thursday to the Waite Park City Council, the St. Cloud Times (http://on.sctimes.com/21JrKpJ ) reported.

The area’s largest venue is the River’s Edge Convention Center, with a maximum concert capacity of about 4,000. Other venues include the Paramount Theatre, with a capacity of about 800 people, and the Pioneer Place, with a capacity of less than 200 people.

In February, the City Council approved a proposal from Oertal Architects to develop a concept plan for the proposed amphitheater on the west side of Waite Park, near Minnesota Highway 23, in a park donated to the city by Martin Marietta Aggregates.

Council members agreed that they would like the amphitheater to hold between 2,000 and 5,000 people in an effort to attract larger acts.

Venues with 1,000 to 2,000 seats could attract performers such as The Charlie Daniels Band, America, Kansas and The Guess Who, according to consultant Wendy Riggs, who was hired to lead the planning process. Venues with 2,000 to 5,000 seats could attract performers such as Alabama, Bob Dylan,

Chicago, Heart and Jeff Foxworthy, she said.

In addition to concerts, the amphitheater would also be able to host community events or movies, so developers are considering the best way to accommodate different seating options.

Oertal estimates the amphitheater will cost around $6 million. It will be funded by sales tax revenue, and perhaps grants or sponsors.