Long Beach Pushes Amphitheater Project Without Funding, Empty Promises or Future Landmark?

LONG BEACH, CA – The City of Long Beach is pushing ahead with plans for its highly anticipated Long Beach Bowl amphitheater, but one major question remains unanswered—how will it be paid for?

At Mayor Rex Richardson’s State of the City address last week, officials celebrated the selection of ASM Global/Legends as the tentative operator for the city’s first-ever waterfront amphitheater, to be located near the historic Queen Mary. However, the city has yet to secure the necessary funding to construct the temporary venue, leaving many questioning whether the ambitious project is more fantasy than reality.

“This is a transformative time for Long Beach,” Richardson declared, emphasizing the city’s aspirations to become a major hub for arts, entertainment, and tourism. But without a clear funding source, critics argue the city is making promises it can’t yet keep.

A Big Vision Without a Budget

Despite the fanfare surrounding the announcement, city officials have not provided a definitive answer on where the money will come from to build the amphitheater. While a request for proposals (RFP) was issued in August 2024 to identify a venue operator, the financials behind the project remain murky.

City officials claim that details on funding will be ironed out in the coming months, with the Long Beach City Council set to formally review the operator selection on March 11, 2025. But without secured financing, some wonder if this project will ever get off the ground.

“The Long Beach Bowl will serve as an iconic destination,” said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. But skeptics argue that unless the city finds the money to build it, the amphitheater will remain nothing more than a concept.

Can Long Beach Afford This?

The amphitheater is planned to cover approximately five to six acres along Queens Highway and will host up to 40 events annually with a capacity of 12,000 attendees. While the city touts its potential economic benefits, some residents and officials are raising concerns about its financial feasibility, particularly as Long Beach faces other pressing infrastructure and budgetary challenges.

Economic Development Director Bo Martinez has called the project a “game-changer” for the city’s growth, but he has not explained how it will be funded. Instead, the city continues to highlight ASM Global/Legends’ experience managing major venues worldwide—without addressing how Long Beach will cover the costs of actually building the amphitheater.

A Risky Bet on a Temporary Venue?

The Long Beach Bowl is planned as a temporary five-year venue, with the possibility of an extension. However, the lack of secured funding raises questions about whether the city can afford to gamble on a short-term project with an uncertain financial future.

City officials insist that site preparation and construction will begin this winter, with completion slated for the end of the year. But without the necessary funding in place, many are wondering: Is Long Beach jumping the gun on an expensive project it can’t afford?

The City of Long Beach has not publicly disclosed the estimated cost of the Long Beach Bowl amphitheater. However, similar temporary amphitheaters with a capacity of around 12,000 seats can cost anywhere from $10 million to $50 million, depending on infrastructure, staging, amenities, and operational needs.

For now, the Long Beach Bowl remains a vision—but until the city finds the money to back it up, it’s unclear when, or if, it will become a reality.