There is no doubt that music fuels the soul of Macon-Bibb County. Our rich music history is a big component of what puts us on the map and now plans for a brand new outdoor amphitheater are going to take us even further.

“It’s a general progression with the venues we already have here,” said David Aiello with the Macon Centreplex. “When you consider Grant’s Lounge, the Hargray Capitol Theatre, the Grand Opera House, the Macon City Auditorium, and the Coliseum, there is obviously a need for something bigger.”

That “something bigger” is an amphitheater that will seat about 10,000 people. Mayor Lester Miller made that announcement on September 15 as he unveiled the revitalization plans for the Macon Mall. Hull Property Group, who currently owns the Macon Mall, is donating the Mall to the County.

Aiello says with the venues currently in the County, they often cannot accommodate bigger acts looking to sell big shows. That will change with the amphitheater, which could be the one of the largest in the state.

“Not only do the big artists who can sell 10,000 tickets play at the amphitheater, but you also get what we like to call twin bills,” said Aiello.

A twin bill would be two big acts playing equally the same night at the same place. This will open more availability for those venues to put on more and different shows.The ability to see bigger and different shows, brings in the potential for more tourism and revenue for our County.

“This is just another jewel in the crown of tourism and promotion that we have in Macon-Bibb,” said Visit Macon CEO & President Gary Wheat. “We now have something that visitors crave, which is the outdoor live music scene.”

According to Visit Macon, each year, about $11 million in local taxes are generated by tourism, saving each household in the County about $500 a year in taxes.

“This is going to generate more visitation and more economic impact that takes a lot of the tax burden off of our citizens,” said Wheat.