Want to see how construction is going on our new amphitheater at the Macon Mall? You now can see the progress in real time thanks to two cameras provided by Piedmont Construction. Piedmont added a second camera this month to see a different angle. You can view it by clicking here. 

“This is such a great way to check on the exciting things happening at the Macon Mall without having to leave your home,” said Mayor Lester Miller. “It’s great seeing how much progress is being done with the new amphitheater, whether with the cameras or driving past regularly. ”

In November, representatives from the Amphitheater’s Design Build Team presented the final design work, renderings, description, and an animated fly through to show people what they can expect to be built at the Macon Mall. You can view the presentation here. 

The amphitheater stage will be on the southeast corner of the site and face toward Rocky Creek and Mercer University Drive, and it will have three distinct seating areas: 2,500 fixed seats in a stepped seating bowl, 1,500 temporary seats on a flat floor between the fixed seats and stage, and 6,000 lawn seats outside of the bowl and roof structure. VIP seating will be in 10 “boxes” between the pit and fixed seating. Two entrance plazas will have concessions, retail amenities, and restrooms, as well as overlooks providing additional VIP opportunities. There will be other concession and retail options around the amphitheater, and future plans could include the construction of a full-service restaurant. 

Performers will have use of a 60’ deep by 72’ wide performance stage with 20’ wide wings. A 12-15’ deep loading dock is being designed to accommodate eight truck bays covered with a canopy to better serve the performers and crews. There will be separate men’s and women’s dressing rooms, star dressing rooms, a green room and catering area, a makeup room, and break rooms and eating areas for the crews. 

In February 2022, the UDA selected Piedmont Construction Group, TVS, Stage Front, and HGOR as the Design/Build Team for the amphitheater. Combined, this team brings extensive experience in design/build projects, mixed-use facilities, entertainment venues, auditoriums, and amphitheaters. 

In May 2022, the UDA approved OVG360 for the management of the amphitheater. OVG360 is the current management company for the Macon Coliseum and Macon City Auditorium. OVG360 is the third-party, venue management, venue services, and hospitality division of Oak View Group (OVG), which is the leading global venue development, advisory, and investment company for both the sports and live entertainment industries. 

About the Macon Mall Redevelopment 

The construction of the new amphitheater is part of a larger revitalization effort surrounding the redevelopment of the Macon Mall. In September, the Mayor and other leaders announced that Hull Property Group would donate the Macon Mall to the government. It will undergo a major redevelopment plan that would, in addition to building the amphitheater, keep its current retail stores, bring in more retail, attract new restaurants into and around the Mall, relocate government offices to vacant spaces, and include new sporting activities, such as a large indoor pickleball center. 

“We are in the center of our community. A place we cannot run from, a place that still needs assets, love, money, respect,” said Mayor Miler at the time. “This area is getting ready to explode [in growth]. It’s nothing one person can do. It’s something that we can do together.”

The project will not cost taxpayers any additional money. Rather, bonds are being issued that will be repaid for with rents already being paid at the mall and future rents from new businesses and offices locating there. The bonds were authorized by the Commission in November, and those funds will be used to build the amphitheater, make upgrades to the Mall, and allow for interior buildout to occur to attract new tenants.