Proposed Downtown Winston-Salem Amphitheater
Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership ask for your Support
The Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership asks for your support of this important project for Downtown Winston-Salem. We are asking the Mayor and City Council of the The City of Winston-Salem to approve a lease for a parcel of unused city land for a portion of this project. The vote is anticipated to take place at the Monday, September 2, 2025 City Council Meeting. Please see the Press Release below for all information and details regarding the Amphitheater project.
We would ask that you reach out to the Winston-Salem Mayor and City Council and share your support and urge your City Council member to support this project.
Link to the City Council Website – Staff Directory • City Council & Mayor Staff Directory • Mayor’s Office or you can copy and paste this into your email – annettes@cityofws.org; bhburke@cityofws.org; vivianvj@cityofws.org; ScottAB@CityOfWS.org; DeniseA@CityOfWS.org; RobertC@CityOfWS.org; reginafh@cityofws.org; Jamestjr@CityOfWS.org
5,000+ Seat Amphitheater Proposed for Downtown Winston-Salem
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AUG. 12, 2025)—Leaders of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership have announced a proposed 5,000+ seat amphitheater to be constructed in downtown Winston-Salem. The location of the amphitheater, which could open in spring 2026, is within the largely vacant block bound by Fifth, Spruce, Sixth and Marshall Streets between Benton Convention Center and First Baptist Church.
Construction of the amphitheater is pending approval from the Winston-Salem City Council for street closures during events at the facility and for the leasing of an adjacent one-acre undeveloped parcel owned by the City of Winston-Salem that would be used as a back-of-house operations facility by amphitheater. No public funds, tax breaks or incentives are being requested for the amphitheater, and there will be no debt on any of the improvements.
The amphitheater site is owned by Flow Automotive CEO Don Flow. The amphitheater project is a privately funded joint venture by Flow and Concert Stuff Group CEO Jim Brammer. Bucky Dame, former director of public assembly facilities for the City of Winston-Salem, is slated to serve as president and general manager of the amphitheater.
“This unimaginable opportunity to partner with Jim is a gift. Jim’s expertise and his world-wide relationships in the industry combined with his deep love for Winston-Salem would serve well as the catalyst for enabling the Winston-Salem amphitheater to immediately host extraordinary events attracting thousands of people downtown,” Flow said. “Additionally, with Bucky Dame as the president and general manager, we would have a leader who is deeply knowledgeable about our community and who has overseen concert venues and music festivals all over the U.S.
“I want to thank Stewart Holmes, Jason Thiel and the Downtown Partnership for how they thoughtfully shepherded this process,” Flow added. “Their involvement of so many community stakeholders encouraged us that the community would support the addition of an amphitheater in downtown Winston-Salem.”
“I couldn’t think of a better partner for this proposed project than Don,” Brammer said. “We both have similar interests and feelings for Winston-Salem. Having spent the better part of my adult life promoting and producing events in and around Winston-Salem, I’m thrilled with the opportunity to once again make an impact in a community I call home.”
The amphitheater is a key component of the 10-year Downtown Winston-Salem Plan, which was adopted by the Winston Salem City Council and the City-County Planning Board in 2023. Developed by the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, City-County Planning Department staff and representatives of Downtown stakeholders, the Downtown Winston-Salem Plan included a recommendation to build an outdoor amphitheater to host a diverse selection of live entertainment events.
The Planning Committee of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership subsequently established a Downtown Amphitheater Subcommittee, which was tasked with learning more about amphitheaters in other communities, determining the feasibility of an outdoor amphitheater in downtown Winston-Salem, and exploring potential sites. At the end of 2024, the Subcommittee began discussions with Don Flow about the possibility of using the site owned by Flow as the location for an amphitheater.
When completed, the proposed amphitheater would generate an estimated $50,000 a year in property taxes for the City of Winston-Salem. The proposed street closing on 6th Street is about 200 yards long and would only happen on concert days (which would be approximately 30 times per year). The fire department and police would have access to the street during periods of closure. The proposed amphitheater would pay for its own security with no additional cost to local law enforcement.
“Before planning began, the Amphitheater Subcommittee looked closely at similar venues—particularly Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh—for information about construction, adaptability, operations, and parking,” Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership President Jason Thiel said. “If approved by the City Council, our amphitheater will spark and sustain downtown vitality by bringing large groups together to enjoy downtown Winston-Salem and support a wide range of downtown businesses, including restaurants, retailers, hotels and the Benton Convention Center.”
Thiel said that parking for the amphitheater will be available at a number of nearby surface lots and in parking decks that are largely underused, particularly at night. Concerts at the amphitheater will end by 11 p.m. to be in compliance with noise ordinances and out of respect to downtown residents.
He said that in addition to bringing highly diverse national touring acts to the amphitheater, it will be available for community performances and events, including those by the Winston-Salem Symphony, the International Black Theatre Festival and local universities, as well as community events such as graduations and religious ceremonies. Thiel added that Wake Forest University, including The Grounds, is aware of the amphitheater and is supportive of it.
Members of the Amphitheater Subcommittee include Stewart Holmes (Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership Planning Committee Chair), Andy Tennille (Amphitheater Subcommittee Chair), Jason Thiel, Mike Cashin, David Barksdale, Dara Folan III, Heidi Schwartz, Walter Farabee, Kirk Ericson, Brandon Berry, Buddy Thomas, Merritt Vale, Carl Dennerson and Saxton Rose.
“We are hopeful that this proposed project will move forward as it will be an excellent demand generator for downtown Winston-Salem and a wonderful community asset,” Holmes said. “The amphitheater project would be 100% privately funded, and the city will gain enormous economic impact from parking, sales tax and room tax with no additional investment and no incentives.”
About the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership
Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership is an active member and advocacy organization leading the efforts to revitalize and strengthen the core of the city through business recruitment and support, economic development, marketing and special events.
News media contact
Steve Bumgarner
Capture Public Relations and Marketing
336-722-9660 (o) or steve@capturevalue.com
