Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk Celebrates Grand Opening July 4th Weekend
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO AND ELECTED OFFICIALS PARTICIPATE IN RIBBON CUTTING TO MARK THE INAUGURAL SUMMER SEASON OF CONCERTS, SPORTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
-GRAND OPENING PERFORMANCES WILL INCLUDE IMPRACTICAL JOKERS, STING & PETER GABRIEL
AND THE BEACH BOYS-
BROOKLYN (June 29, 2016) – The celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony for Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk was held today in preparation for its grand opening weekend, July 1-4, which will include Impractical Jokers, Sting & Peter Gabriel and The Beach Boys.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was joined by Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, Council Member Mark Treyger, New York State Assembly Member Pamela Harris, Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Maria Torres-Springer, iStar CEO Jay Sugarman, and Live Nation North Atlantic President Alan Ostfield.
Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk is operated by Live Nation, which has secured an eclectic summer entertainment lineup, including more than 40 concerts, as well as a variety of family shows, sports, comedy and multicultural events. The venue is also the permanent home for the Seaside Summer Concert Series, which will host a sequence of free shows throughout the summer.
Tri-State Ford Dealers is the naming rights partner of the new 5,000-seat covered open-air venue, the first of its kind in the Tri-State area. The naming rights partnership was secured by Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, which manages and controls Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets, and the New York Islanders business operations.
The entertainment development is the result of a public-private partnership between the City of New York and iStar. In addition to the free and paid concerts, the venue will serve as an exciting destination for a variety of community-based cultural, educational and sporting events throughout the year. Ford Amphitheater was developed by iStar, with its community nonprofit partner Coney Island USA, and serves as an important part of the de Blasio Administration’s larger commitment to investing in and revitalizing the Coney Island community.
“We are thrilled to be unveiling Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk today,” said iStar CEO Jay Sugarman. “This project is a symbol of so many things… rebirth, resiliency, hard work and creative partnership. This is the beginning of a new chapter for Coney Island and we’re excited for the years to come.”
“We’re continuing to invest in Coney Island as both a dynamic residential community, and a destination for visitors from across the city and around the world,” said Mayor de Blasio. “The opening of this world class amphitheater is just the latest milestone in our ongoing commitment to a thriving Coney Island, with new affordable housing, open space, and even more good jobs on the way.”
“Coney Island is a summer staple for New Yorkers, and Live Nation is proud to bring a full and diverse lineup of live concerts and shows to the Boardwalk,” said Alan Ostfield, President of Live Nation North Atlantic. “The shows you’ll see this summer are true to the spirit of Coney Island, offering something for everyone and for friends and families to enjoy together.”
Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk is located on Coney Island’s famed Boardwalk and incorporates the revitalized historic Childs Building, built in 1923 as one of the first large-format stand-alone restaurants in the country. The building is now designated as a New York City landmark and is currently undergoing a full restoration after suffering decades of neglect.
The venue’s stage, which is housed inside of the Childs Building with 50-foot tall doors opening to Ford Amphitheater during the summer, will also have the ability to serve the interior of the building during the winter months. The restored building is the first wet flood proofed structure to be approved and built since Hurricane Sandy.
In addition to the Childs Building, the development of Ford Amphitheater includes an expansive community park and playground. Together, the area will serve as a year-round event space, restaurant and catering facility. Legends, which operates at 36 Live Nation amphitheaters around the country, will provide hospitality services.
“Just in time for summer, visitors to the People’s Playground will enjoy a world class music venue drawing internationally renowned performers to our borough,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “Coney Island has always offered the entire community an opportunity to enjoy entertainment of all varieties on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk will continue that wonderful tradition. I am pleased that this will be the new permanent home of the Seaside Summer Concert Series that I am proud to host for thousands of music lovers from Brooklyn and beyond. I look forward to many fantastic events that will stimulate further economic opportunity in a community for which we aspire to be a year-round destination for family-friendly fun.”
“Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk is a vivacious new addition that will quickly weave right into the fabric of Coney Island,” said City Council Member Mark Treyger. “While it is always good news to welcome more music and the arts to an already culturally rich neighborhood, the best part about this new facility is that the people behind it are committed to local hiring and community engagement, and will be working with local stakeholders to build on the area’s tradition of free community concerts and other purposeful programming.”
“The completion of Ford Amphitheater marks an important accomplishment for our local businesses, residents, and the entire Coney Island community,” said Assembly Member Pamela Harris. “In addition to boosting the economy and creating jobs, the new amphitheater will provide an ideal venue for Coney Island residents and visitors to experience state-of-the-art music and entertainment.”
“Our Tri-State Ford Dealers are thrilled to become the naming rights partner for the new Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk,” said John Billard, Chairman of the Tri-State Ford Dealers Advertising Board (Tri-State FDAF). “We are committed to the Tri-State community and look forward to sharing this exciting venue with all visitors to enjoy, as they’ve enjoyed this historic neighborhood for so many years.”
“We are thrilled to marry two iconic American brands, Ford and Coney Island, at New York’s newest outdoor entertainment destination,” said Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment CEO Brett Yormark. “The partnership will provide instant brand awareness for the venue while growing Ford’s brand footprint locally.”
“Coney Island USA is proud to stand with iStar, Live Nation and other stakeholders to open Coney Island’s newest major attraction, Ford Amphitheater,” said Dick Zigun, Executive Artistic Director of Coney Island USA. “This venue not only restores a beautiful 1923 landmark building, but restores Coney Island’s historic reputation for presenting regular bookings of famous top quality entertainers. The venue will also be home to free concerts and the annual Mermaid Parade and I am full of pride to have had a small part making this exciting day happen.”
“The Seaside Summer Concert Series has been a New York City tradition for the past 36 summers,” said Debra Garcia, Executive Producer of Seaside Summer Concert Series. “We look forward to working with Live Nation, as well as continuing to bring free shows to the New York community in our new permanent home in Coney Island.”
“Today is a historic day for all of Brooklyn, but most importantly for Coney Island, which will now be even more of a destination for visitors from across the country and the world,” said Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Carlo Scissura. “Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk will attract first-rate performances to one of New York’s greatest neighborhoods, generating millions of dollars in economic development for local businesses and the area as a whole. I have been proud to work on and shape this project every step of the way for the past eight years – since my very first day as Chief of Staff to former Borough President Marty Markowitz – and I cannot wait to attend many amazing shows here for decades to come. Special thanks to the entire Coney Island community for working together to create a great project, the team at iStar, all the past and present elected officials, and of course, former Borough President Markowitz for his unwavering support and commitment, which led to this amphitheater being built.”
“For over a hundred years, Coney Island has shown the world how to have fun,” said NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer. “We’re so excited to be continuing that legacy with a new amphitheater and open space that will serve residents and visitors alike, and create hundreds of good jobs. This is yet another part of our ongoing effort to grow opportunities to live, work and play here in southern Brooklyn.”
The Grand Opening celebration schedule is as follows:
Friday, July 1 – The weekend kicks off with a comedy performance from the stars of truTV’s “Impractical Jokers,” and New York natives, The Tenderloins.
Sunday, July 3 – Two of music’s most iconic artists – Sting & Peter Gabriel – will unite for a landmark concert singing all their hits on the boardwalk stage.
Monday, July 4 – Rounding out the weekend, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers The Beach Boys will perform on the Fourth of July before a celebratory firework show.
Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk 2016 Summer Concert Series