The Onondaga Lakeview Amphitheater project is moving full speed ahead to time to welcome its first official act during the 2015 New York State Fair. Construction crews have been busy working a couple of shifts daily for months. Country singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert will be the first official concert act on Thursday, September 3rd. In a statement provided by the County Executive’s office and concert promoter Live Nation, the singer acknowledges that she is no stranger to the area.
“I’m excited to be the first live music in the brand new (Onondaga) Lakeview Amphitheater! Upstate New York is so beautiful to visit, breaking in the new amphitheater is just icing on the cake.” - Miranda Lambert
For residents scratching their heads as to why Onondaga County is investing in the new venue instead of repairing infrastructure, County Executive Joanie Mahoney explains the tax revenue concerts generate will provide more in the budget. She also thinks visitors will view the area as a destination.
“We have more to offer here in Syracuse than a lot of the other venues across the state have. There’s a real reason to spend the weekend in Syracuse if you come for a show because there’s so much else to do. So, I think people are going to see very quickly that this is an economic engine that’s gonna fuel those projects; where we’re going to be fixing water pipes and paving road with the dollars that’s been off of this amphitheater.”
Concertgoers who attend Lambert’s show during the Fair will have the same opportunity to go to the Fair, according to Interim State Fair Director Troy Waffner.
“It’s gonna be the same as in years past, if you buy a ticket to an amphitheater concert this year and the years going forward, during the Fair, you’ll get free admission to the fair whether it’s on the day of the concert or any one of the 12 days of the Fair.”
For the most popular acts such as Jason Aldean last year, it means the Fair’s parking lots fill up as far away as the Orange lot located off I-690 West at the State Fair Boulevard Exit. Waffner says they’ll actually be closer to the venue than ever.
“If you park in the Orange Lot, you’re right there at the front door of the Amphitheater. And you know what? You can catch one of our shuttles that Centro operates with us and you can come down to the main gate of the fair. If you want to go in and get your pizza fritte (fried dough) or your deep fried quarter pounder hamburger or whatever else you want in life.”
The 2015 edition of the State Fair runs August 27th through September 7th as Labor Day falls later this year. Tickets for Miranda Lambert’s concert go on sale Friday, July 31st at 10 AM at the OnCenter box office or through Ticketmaster. In the meantime, the old Fair Grandstand will be used for three shows this year and is set for demolition next year to make way for redevelopment of the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
