Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Renovation of Concert Venue at Northerly Island Aims to Improve Sight Lines

 The view from field seating outside the former Charter One Pavilion, which has since been renamed FirstMerit Bank Pavilion.
The view from field seating outside the former Charter One Pavilion, which has since been renamed FirstMerit Bank Pavilion.
View Full Caption
Flickr/Marit Toomas Hinnosaar

MUSEUM CAMPUS — A series of renovations to FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island are aimed at improving sight lines for the upcoming concert season, Live Nation announced Monday.

Construction that began earlier this winter in partnership with Valerio Dewalt Train architects permanently raised the floor-level seating near the stage to allow "fans close to the stage to still enjoy the show at a comfortable eye level," according to a release.

The stage floor now can be elevated for "larger-scale shows" to increase visibility from the lawn seats that were added last year to expand the lakefront venue's capacity to 30,000.

The renovations were motivated by feedback from patrons during the 2013 season, culled from "face-to-face interactions with patrons," social media and other channels, according to Jon Reens, a spokesman for Live Nation.

Stage visibility was one of several concerns voiced by concert-goers during the 2013 season, who said the flat lawn seating area made it hard to see the show and allowed water and mud to pool during heavy rains in June. No changes are planned for the lawn area, Reens said.

Live Nation ultimately offered free tickets to Dispatch and Jimmy Buffett ticketholders after a flood of negative feedback.

The venue was renamed FirstMerit Bank Pavilion last summer after the contract of former sponsor Charter One Bank expired.