The Orion Amphitheater is an amphitheatre in the MidCity District of Huntsville, Alabama.

Orion Amphitheater
The exterior of the Orion Amphitheater in October, 2024
Map
Address701 Amphitheater Drive NW
Huntsville, AL 35806
Coordinates34°44′03.7″N 86°40′05.7″W / 34.734361°N 86.668250°W / 34.734361; -86.668250
TypeAmphitheater
Genre(s)Music and concerts
Capacity8000 [1]
Construction
Opened2022[1]
ArchitectDavid M. Schwarz Architects, Inc.
Website
theorionhuntsville.com

The amphitheater, which cost $40 million to build, is owned by the city of Huntsville.[2] It was designed by David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc.,[3] and is run by the Huntsville Venue Group, a division of Mumford & Sons keyboardist Ben Lovett's Venue Group.[4]

The amphitheater opened in 2022, on the weekend of May 13th through 15th. The grand opening event, titled "The First Waltz", featured performances by Brittany Howard, the Drive-By Truckers, Emmylou Harris, Jason Isbell, John Paul White, Mavis Staples, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, and others.[3][4]

In 2024, the Orion Amphitheater was nominated for the Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year award in Pollstar's 36th annual awards.[5]

Artist garden

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The Orion staff manage a garden located in a small meadow behind the amphitheater. The fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are grown in the garden are used in on-site catering and cocktails. The garden is also used as a place for relaxation by Orion staff and visiting musical artists.[6]

Orion manager Ryan Murphy had previously established a similar garden at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre in Florida while he was a manager there.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About Us". The Orion Amphitheater. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  2. ^ Wake, Matt (22 February 2022). "Group behind Orion Amphitheater secures $50 million in new funding". AL.com. Advance Local. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b "NEWLY CONSTRUCTED ORION AMPHITHEATER IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA DESIGNED BY DAVID M. SCHWARZ ARCHITECTS PREPARES FOR THE FIRST WALTZ, GRAND OPENING CONCERT". PR Newswire US. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b Freeman, Jon (8 September 2022). "Huntsville, Alabama Is Rethinking the Amphitheater Experience". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  5. ^ Wake, Matt (14 November 2024). "Is this Alabama outdoor music venue the best in North America?". AL.com. Advance Local. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b Pearl, Wendy (19 August 2024). "2024 Excellence In Concessions: Orion Amphitheater Artist Garden - VenuesNow". Venues Now.
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