Opening of Amphitheater at Coney Island announced for July, 2016

Outdoor entertainment has a new home in Coney Island, with the long-awaited Amphitheater finally scheduled to open on the Boardwalk come summer.

The 5,000-seat open-air venue, said to be the first of its kind in the tri-state area, will host a mix of concerts, family shows, sports, comedy and multicultural events, and become the new permanent home of the free Seaside Summer Concert Series, according to Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE).

Given the green light by City Council back in 2013, the project was spearheaded by former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who was looking for a permanent home for his Seaside Summer Concerts, a free series he launched when he was a state senator, and which for years was held in Asser Levy Park, but which lost the venue after nearby residents and worshippers at two adjacent synagogues successfully sued over noise levels .

In December 2013, a special permit was approved for the site of the new amphitheater, which incorporates the Boardwalk’s landmarked Child’s building—built in 1923—allowing it a 10-year term with a maximum seat capacity of 5,099.

The historic Child’s building will house the stage and include 50-foot tall doors that will open to the Amphitheater during the summer and will be able to serve the inside of the building during the winter months.

“Our vision for Coney Island is a neighborhood that preserves the past while building for the future, and that balances a vibrant amusement district with a growing residential community,” said Maria Torres-Springer, president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), who helped broker the $60 million investment deal for the Amphitheater with iStar Financial and nonprofit Coney Island USA. “The Amphitheater is ‎a key component of our investment in the neighborhood, and will soon be home to both world class concerts and community events.‎”

Live Nation Entertainment will hold a long-term lease at the space and will tackle booking and promoting a full summer season of live music, comedy and family entertainment at the venue.

According to BSE, the Amphitheater is part of a series of investments made by the city in the past decade in an effort to revitalize the amusement district and promote the growth of Coney Island as a neighborhood.

“America’s Playground is getting ready to welcome its greatest attraction yet!” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “From its very first performance this summer, the Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk will be a must-visit destination for fun-seekers in search of top-flight entertainment from near and far. I am excited that I will get to serve as host of the Seaside Summer Concert Series at this new and exciting venue, which will have a positive impact on the holistic growth of the Coney Island community for years to come.”

“As we await further infrastructure and transportation improvements, this facility will help ignite a cultural flair and vitality the likes of which Coney has been missing for decades,” said Councilmember Mark Treyger. “I have been assured that the team in place is committed to community engagement, and will be working with local shareholders to build on the area’s tradition of free community concerts and other meaningful programming.”