Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater

The Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview (formerly known as the Lakeview Amphitheater and St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview) is an outdoor concert venue located on the shores of Onondaga Lake in the Town of Geddes, near the western edge of Syracuse, New York. It is an extension of the Empire Expo Center, home to the Great New York State Fair.

Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater[1]
Map
Full nameEmpower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
Former namesLakehouse Concert Pavilion Performance Arts Center (initial announcement)
Onondaga Lake Amphitheater (planning/construction)
Lakeview Amphitheater (2015-2018)
St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview (2018-2023)
Address490 Restoration Way, Syracuse, NY 13209-1047
LocationOnondaga Lake, Geddes
OwnerOnondaga County
Operator[2]
Capacity17,500
Construction
Broke groundNovember 19, 2014 (2014-11-19)
OpenedSeptember 3, 2015 (2015-09-03)
Construction cost$49.3 million
($63.5 million in 2023 dollars[3])
Architect
Structural engineerCives Steel Company
Services engineerNortheast Contractors Inc.
General contractorGilbane Building Company
Website
Venue Website

It replaced the aging Mohegan Sun Grandstand and is the main stage for concerts during the fair season. Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater holds 17,500 spectators - 5,000 seats under the pavilion and 12,500 lawn seats.[4]

History

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Plans for an amphitheater, at the time named "Lakehouse Concert Pavilion Performance Arts Center," located on the shores Onondaga Lake were announced in January 2014 by then-New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo as part of phase one of the Onondaga Lake Revitilzation program. The land for the amphitheater was unused land already owned by Onondaga County, part of which is a former landfill.[5][6][7] The venue aimed to draw music and entertainment acts to Central New York that were bypassing the area in favor of Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, located approximately 120 miles west of the new amphitheater, and Saratoga Performing Arts Center, located approximately 140 miles east of the new amphitheater.[8]

Construction began November 2014 and was completed August 24, 2015, at a cost of over $40 million.[9] The amphitheater was designed by Westlake Reed Leskosky (now DLR Group) of Cleveland, OH.[10] The venue opened on September 3, 2015 with a concert held by country singer, Miranda Lambert.[11]

In 2016 the amphitheater was awarded “Best of the Best Government/Public Building Project” by Engineering News-Record as well as "Exceptional Facility Design" from New York State Recreation & Park Society.[12][13]

St. Joseph's Health purchased the naming rights for the venue, with the new name going into effect beginning in June 2018.[14] In October 2023, Empower Federal Credit Union paid $4 million for the amphitheater's naming rights for a 7 year period with the new venue name being Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview.[15]

Performances

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The amphitheater's concert season usually runs from June through September with concerts occasionally occurring as early as May and as late as October. Since its first full season in 2016, the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater has hosted an average of 17 shows per season. No shows were performed at the venue in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since opening, the venue has hosted over 200 different artists as of the 2023 season.[16][17]

As of 2023, Breaking Benjamin & Zac Brown Band have each performed five times at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater - tied for the most appearances by an artist at the venue. Luke Bryan, REO Speedwagon & Shinedown have each performed four times at the venue as of 2023.[16][17]

Other performances have included Bad Wolves, Brantley Gilbert, Brett Eldredge, Caylee Hammack, Charley Crockett, Cheap Trick, Counting Crows, Crown the Empire, Dashboard Confessional, Don Felder, Five Finger Death Punch, Foreigner, Incubus, Jason Aldean, Joan Jett, Kane Brown, Kenny Chesney, Korn, Lady A, Marilyn Manson, Red Sun Rising, Rob Thomas, Slipknot, Steely Dan, Stone Sour, Tesla, 311, 5 Seconds of Summer, A Day to Remember, Abby Anderson, Alice in Chains, All Time Low, Alter Bridge, Andy Black, Anthrax, Atlas Genius, Atreyu, Avril Lavigne, Badflower, Bambara, Billy Idol, blink-182, Bob Dylan, Boston, Brett Young, Broken Hands, Bryan Adams, Bush, Carly Pearce, Caroline Jones, Casey Veggies, Chevelle, Chicago, Chris Stapleton, Code Orange, Cole Swindell, Craig Campbell, Dan Tyminski, Darrell Scott, Dave Mason, Dave Stryker, Dawes, Deadly Apples, DED, Def Leppard, Diamante, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Disturbed, DJ Drama, DJ Spider, Dorothy, Drake White, Dylan Scott, Earth, Wind & Fire, Elle King, Falling in Reverse, Fever 333, Fire From the Gods, Florida Georgia Line, Foo Fighters, Foster the People, Four Year Strong, Future, Godsmack, Grace VanderWaal, Gym Class Heroes, Halestorm, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Hank Williams, Jr., HARDY, Heart, Hey Violet, Hollywood Undead, iann dior, Imagine Dragons, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Janet Jackson, Jelly Roll, Jhené Aiko, Jimmy Eat World, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Sumner, John Harvie, John Mayer, Jonas Brothers, Journey, Keith Urban, Kendell Marvel, Kid Rock, Killswitch Engage, Kings of Leon, KISS, Lainey Wilson, Lamb of God, Lilth Czar, Loverboy, Lukas Nelson, Luke Combs, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Machine Gun Kelly, Marcus King, Maren Morris, Margo Price, Mary J. Blige, Matchbox Twenty, Matt Nathanson, Mayer Hawthorne, Megadeth, Memphis May Fire, Miranda Lambert, My Morning Jacket, Napalm Death, Nas, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Nothing More, O.A.R., Of Mice & Men, Old Dominion, ONE OK ROCK, Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, Papa Roach, Paramore, Patty Griffin, Pentatonix, Peter Frampton, Phillip Phillips, Phish, Pittbull, Poison, Pop Evil, Rascall Flatts, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Rivers & Rust, Rob Zombie, Russell Dickerson, Saint Asonia, Santana, Scotty McCreery, Shania Twain, Silversun Pickups, Skillet, Slayer, Soccer Mommy, Sting, Sublime with Rome, Testament, The Aquadolls, The Charlie Daniels Band, The Chicks, The Goo Goo Dolls, The HU, The L.I.F.E. Project, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Offspring, The Pixies, The Pretty Reckless, The Story So Far, The Used, The Warning, The Wombats, Third Eye Blind, Thomas Rhett, Three Days Grace, Tim McGraw, Tyler Farr, Weezer, Whitesnake, Willie Nelson, Wiz Khalifa, Yelawolf, Yellowcard & ZZ Top.[16][17]

Attendance

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According Pollstar, Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater has ranked in the top 50 in worldwide ticket sales for amphitheaters since the venue's first full season in 2016 (excluding 2020 when no concerts were held at the venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic).[18][19][20][21][22]

Year Worldwide Rank Tickets Sold
2016 38 195,215
2017 46 157,931
2018 34 220,979
2019 50 92,421
2020 - -
2021 50 74,114
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Baker, Chris. "St. Joe's Amp in Syracuse gets a new name, starting today". Syracuse.com. SYracuse.com. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  2. ^ Brooks, Dave (October 21, 2015). "SMG and Live Nation To Manage Lakeview Amphitheater". Amplify Media. Prometheus Global Media, LLC. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  3. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Erdekian, Alex (September 1, 2015). "Lakeview Amphitheater to bring big name acts to Syracuse during summer". The Daily Orange. Syracuse University. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  5. ^ Defrancisco, John (January 29, 2014). "Governor Cuomo Unveils Details of Onondaga Lake Revitalization Program". The New York State Senate]. The New York State Senate. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "Amphitheater could be a powerful symbol of Onondaga Lake's comeback". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. February 2, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  7. ^ Weaver, Teri (January 29, 2014). "$100 million in NY, county money for Onondaga Lake project, officials say". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Weaver, Teri (January 24, 2014). "Onondaga Lake waterfront amphitheater will be second to none, Legislature chairman say". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Baker, Chris (August 17, 2015). "The Lakeview Amphitheater cost $49,377,874: See where every dollar was spent". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  10. ^ "Onondoga Lakeview Ampitheater by DLR Group". Architizer. 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  11. ^ Baker, Chris (August 31, 2015). "See what the Lakeview Amphitheater stage will look like from your seat". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  12. ^ Blair, Scott (January 28, 2017). "Judges Pick Winners for ENR's Best of the Best Projects Competition". Engineering News-Record. BNP Media II, LLC. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  13. ^ Baker, Chris (April 21, 2016). "Lakeview Amphitheater, Beaver Lake win state parks awards". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  14. ^ Knauss, Tim (April 3, 2018). "Onondaga County lawmakers OK new name: St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  15. ^ Baker, Chris (October 20, 2023). "St. Joe's Amp in Syracuse gets a new name, starting today". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c "Lakeview Amphitheater Syracuse Concert Setlists". setlist.fm. setlist.fm. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c "St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview Syracuse Concert Setlists". setlist.fm. setlist.fm. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  18. ^ "Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Amphitheatres 2016" (PDF). Pollstar. Oak View Group. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  19. ^ "Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Amphitheatres 2017" (PDF). Pollstar. Oak View Group. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  20. ^ "Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Amphitheatres 2018" (PDF). Pollstar. Oak View Group. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  21. ^ "Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Amphitheatres 2019" (PDF). Pollstar. Oak View Group. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  22. ^ "Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Amphitheatres 2021" (PDF). Pollstar. Oak View Group. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  23. ^ Tulloch, Katrina (September 11, 2017). "Sheryl Crow skates around Onondaga Lake in new music video". The Post-Standard. Advance Publications. Retrieved November 20, 2022.

43°05′23″N 76°13′13″W / 43.0896126°N 76.2203909°W / 43.0896126; -76.2203909