Red Hat Amphitheater
Red Hat Amphitheater is a 5,000-capacity outdoor live-event venue in downtown Raleigh, NC, owned by the City of Raleigh as part of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex. It hosts ~32 concerts per season (Live Nation-promoted), serving music fans in the Southeast with on-site F&B, accessibility services, and naming rights sponsorship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersRaleigh, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Red Hat Amphitheater does
Red Hat Amphitheater is a 5,000-capacity outdoor live-event venue located at 500 S McDowell St in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, opened in 2010 as part of the municipal Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex. The venue is owned and operated by the City of Raleigh under the direction of Kerry Painter, Director and General Manager, who also oversees the broader Complex (Raleigh Convention Center, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, and Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek). Its core product is a single event-hosting platform offering reserved seating, general admission lawn, VIP tables, and a general admission pit, with 32 concerts on the announced 2026 calendar featuring touring artists such as Bob Dylan, Chance the Rapper, Lindsey Stirling, Deep Purple, and O.A.R.
The amphitheater generates revenue through three primary streams. First, ticket sales routed via Ticketmaster and Live Nation, with Live Nation acting as the dominant promoter (producing most 2026 shows). Second, on-site food and beverage operated by Sodexo Live! through a venue food truck, concessions, bars, and the cashless payment infrastructure, augmented by the city's Sip N' Stroll Social District program. Third, naming rights licensing ($235k per year from Red Hat, extended through 2027) and premium experience monetization (YETI Rambler cup refills, VIP table seating, lawn chair rentals). The 2026 season marks the venue's 16th year, having grown from 20 inaugural-season shows to 32 concerts, and a physical relocation one block south is scheduled for 2027 as Phase One of the Raleigh Convention Center expansion.
The go-to-market motion is event-driven and partner-led: Visit Raleigh (Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau) drives destination marketing and hotel-room generation (100,050 contracted rooms, $70.4M direct economic impact), while Ticketmaster and Live Nation handle ticketing and artist routing. The venue carries industry certifications including the IAVM-recognized leadership of Painter (former Board Chair) and KultureCity Sensory Inclusive certification. The amphitheater serves two segments: end consumers (concert and live-music enthusiasts in the Southeast) and business customers (concert promoters, event organizers, and corporate renters). Multi-channel marketing spans Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, email newsletter, the venue website, and PR partnerships with Visit Raleigh.
Red Hat Amphitheater firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Red Hat Amphitheater
- Legal name
- Red Hat Amphitheater (City of Raleigh)
- Website
- https://redhatamphitheater.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Red Hat Amphitheater is a 5,000-capacity outdoor live-event venue in downtown Raleigh, NC, owned by the City of Raleigh as part of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex. It hosts ~32 concerts per season (Live Nation-promoted), serving music fans in the Southeast with on-site F&B, accessibility services, and naming rights sponsorship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Red Hat Amphitheater industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Entertainment Venue
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor Amphitheater & Open-Air Venue Operations (MPAGALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL), VIP, Hospitality & Premium Experiences (Packages, Clubs, Suites) (MPAIAFAK), Concession & Stadium / Arena Catering (THAFAIAG)
Keywords
Where Red Hat Amphitheater is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Raleigh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Red Hat Amphitheater business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: The venue generates primary revenue through ticket sales for concerts and live performances. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster and Live Nation platforms.
- Concessions and Food & Beverage: Revenue generated from on-site food truck, concessions, and bars operated by Sodexo Live!. The venue is cashless, accepting credit, debit, or mobile pay.
- Sponsorships and Naming Rights: Naming rights for the venue are extended through 2027, producing $235k per year. Red Hat naming rights contribute to venue revenue.
- Premium Experiences and Upgrades: Revenue from VIP table seating, lawn chair rentals, and premium experiences including YETI Rambler cups with discounted refills.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Red Hat Amphitheater product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Red Hat Amphitheater is an outdoor music venue in downtown Raleigh, NC that hosts live concert performances for approximately 5,000 attendees, with reserved seating, general admission lawn, VIP table seating, and a general admission pit for select shows. The venue generates revenue through ticket sales (via Ticketmaster and Live Nation), on-site food and beverage services (food truck, concessions, and bars operated by Sodexo Live!), premium experience upgrades, and naming-rights/sponsorship income. It is part of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, sharing box office and management infrastructure with adjacent city-owned venues.
Product overview
Red Hat Amphitheater is a single outdoor music venue (part of the Raleigh Convention + Performing Arts Complex) offering live concert performances. The venue operates as a unified event hosting platform with integrated food and beverage services including a food truck, concessions and bars, and the Sip N' Stroll Social District. Additional offerings include accessibility services, sustainability programs, box office ticketing via Ticketmaster, and private event catering through Sodexo Live!. The venue is currently in its 16th season (2026) and is planned for relocation one block south in 2027 as part of Phase One of the Raleigh Convention Center expansion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Red Hat Amphitheater Concert Venue Open-air amphitheater in downtown Raleigh, NC hosting live concert performances with capacity for approximately 5,000 attendees across reserved seating, general admission lawn, VIP table seating, and a general admission pit for select shows.
- Food Truck Service
Quantifiable outcome
- $70.4 million in direct economic impact from Convention Center events generating 100,050 contracted hotel rooms
Companies that use Red Hat Amphitheater
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Red Hat Amphitheater technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
Red Hat Amphitheater partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Visit RaleighcoreGreater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization. Visit Raleigh books events generating 100,050 contracted hotel rooms and $70.4 million in direct economic impact. Wake County welcomes nearly 18 million visitors annually.
- TicketmastercorePrimary ticketing partner for all Red Hat Amphitheater events. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster platform with links provided on the venue website.
- Live NationcoreMajor concert promoter and venue operator partnership. Live Nation produces shows at the amphitheater with Fast Lane access and premium seat upgrades available through their platform.
- Sodexo Live!coreIn-house concessions and catering partner. Sodexo Live! provides food truck, concessions, and bar services. They lead sustainability initiatives including compostable utensils, plates, napkins, and eco-friendly cups.
- The Great Raleigh CleanupminorNonprofit sustainability partner that collects cans and educates guests about recycling on concert days. They have removed over 130,000 pounds of trash and 25,000 pounds of aluminum through volunteer efforts.
- Compost NowminorComposting partner that handles organic waste from band and crew meals. Sodexo Live! works with Compost Now to ensure food scraps, plates, utensils, and paper products are composted.
- McLaurin ParkingminorOwns and operates the closest public parking decks to the venue including locations on Lenoir Street, South Street, Davie Street, and Cabarrus Street. Red Hat Amphitheater does not control parking rates.
- Tito's VodkaminorTito's Homemade Vodka donates $1 for every Tito's cocktail purchased to Friends of Wake County Animal Center, up to $10,000, as part of a charitable partnership during the 2026 concert season.
- Martin Marietta Center for the Performing ArtscorePart of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex. The naming rights for Martin Marietta Center bring in more than $500k to the city annually for 20 years. Both venues share box office services.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Red Hat Amphitheater competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ascend Amphitheater: Live Nation–operated outdoor riverside amphitheater (~6,800 capacity) in downtown Nashville. Comparable as a downtown outdoor amphitheater with mixed reserved/lawn seating, civic-tourism integration, and Live Nation–driven bookings.
- Merriweather Post Pavilion: Iconic outdoor amphitheater in Columbia, MD (~19,000 capacity) hosting major touring artists. Comparable as a long-standing, high-demand outdoor amphitheater with lawn and reserved seating and a similar artist mix.
- Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek: Outdoor amphitheater in Raleigh managed by the same City of Raleigh team under the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex. Directly comparable as a Southeast outdoor music venue with similar capacity and Live Nation–driven programming.
- Filene Center at Wolf Trap: Outdoor performing arts venue (~7,000 capacity) near Washington, DC. Comparable as an outdoor amphitheater hosting national touring artists with reserved and lawn seating and a public-affiliation governance model.
- Daily's Place Amphitheater: ~5,500-capacity outdoor amphitheater in Jacksonville, FL, attached to a Live Nation–operated complex. Comparable in size, Southeast market positioning, and Live Nation partnership structure.
- PNC Music Pavilion: Live Nation–operated outdoor amphitheater in Charlotte, NC (~5,000–20,000 capacity) hosting major touring acts. Closest geographic comparable for an outdoor amphitheater in the Carolinas with a similar mid-tier Southeast market profile.
- Jiffy Lube Live: Live Nation–operated outdoor amphitheater (~25,000 capacity) in Bristow, VA. Comparable as a large-scale Live Nation outdoor amphitheater serving the mid-Atlantic/Southeast touring circuit.
- Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park: ~6,000-capacity outdoor amphitheater in Atlanta, GA. Comparable as a Southeast city-based outdoor amphitheater with reserved seating focus and a similar mix of national touring acts.
Broad incumbents
- AEG Presents: Major live music promoter and venue operator (e.g., Staples Center, The O2). Comparable as a competing national venue operator and concert promoter whose touring roster decisions affect Red Hat's booking pipeline.
- Live Nation Entertainment: Largest live entertainment promoter and venue operator globally. Comparable as the primary content promoter and ticketing counterparty for Red Hat Amphitheater and operator of numerous competing amphitheaters across the Southeast.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Red Hat Amphitheater social profiles
Digital presenceRed Hat Amphitheater compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Red Hat Amphitheater financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Red Hat Amphitheater leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Red Hat Amphitheater funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Red Hat Amphitheater M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Red Hat Amphitheater
What does Red Hat Amphitheater do?
Red Hat Amphitheater is an outdoor music venue in downtown Raleigh, NC that hosts live concert performances for approximately 5,000 attendees, with reserved seating, general admission lawn, VIP table seating, and a general admission pit for select shows. The venue generates revenue through ticket sales (via Ticketmaster and Live Nation), on-site food and beverage services (food truck, concessions, and bars operated by Sodexo Live!), premium experience upgrades, and naming-rights/sponsorship income. It is part of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, sharing box office and management infrastructure with adjacent city-owned venues.
Is Red Hat Amphitheater a public or private company?
Red Hat Amphitheater is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Red Hat Amphitheater founded?
Red Hat Amphitheater was founded in 2010. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Red Hat Amphitheater based?
Red Hat Amphitheater is headquartered in Raleigh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Red Hat Amphitheater make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are concessions and Food & Beverage, sponsorships and Naming Rights and premium Experiences and Upgrades.
Who are Red Hat Amphitheater's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ascend Amphitheater, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, Filene Center at Wolf Trap, Daily's Place Amphitheater, PNC Music Pavilion, Jiffy Lube Live and Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park. Broad incumbents are AEG Presents and Live Nation Entertainment.
Does Red Hat Amphitheater have an API?
No public API is recorded for Red Hat Amphitheater.
What industry is Red Hat Amphitheater in?
Red Hat Amphitheater's product category is Live Entertainment Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGALAG, Outdoor Amphitheater & Open-Air Venue Operations, with a secondary code of MPAIAFAL, Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions). Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7900.