Cleveland Experts Warn Proposed Lakefront Concert Venue Would Harm Existing Music Venues

Music industry veterans argue the 10,000-seat venue would cannibalize business from struggling local concert halls.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A proposed 10,000-seat concert venue on Cleveland's lakefront is facing harsh criticism from local music industry experts and podcast hosts, who argue the plan would directly compete with several established Cleveland venues that are already struggling financially. The experts question whether the market can support another major venue without pulling shows and revenue away from existing facilities.

Why it matters

The debate over the lakefront concert venue highlights broader questions about Cleveland's approach to developing its valuable waterfront property. Critics argue the city should prioritize year-round attractions and amenities that benefit the community, rather than occasional-use facilities that could harm existing businesses.

The details

The planned concert venue is part of broader lakefront development concepts in Cleveland. It would compete with venues like Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Blossom Music Center, and Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, all of which already vie for a limited pool of touring acts and audience dollars. Music industry veterans warn that very few music venues are profitable, and adding another major facility could simply redistribute existing business rather than grow the overall entertainment offerings.

  • The proposed concert venue plan was announced in February 2026.

The players

Chris Quinn

Host of the 'Today in Ohio' podcast and critic of the concert venue plan.

Rich Exner

Cleveland.com reporter who spoke with music industry experts about the proposed venue.

Courtney Astolfi

Cleveland.com reporter who discussed the industry experts' concerns about the venue's viability.

John Gorman

Former longtime program director of WMMS radio and critic of the concert venue plan.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This was a dumb idea... Very few music venues are in the black. They're all losing money. We don't need it.”

— Chris Quinn, Host, 'Today in Ohio' podcast (Today in Ohio)

“Everything about this to me is stupid. And I completely agree with Gorman.”

— Chris Quinn, Host, 'Today in Ohio' podcast (Today in Ohio)

“These music industry veterans question whether the market can absorb a venue that... that's comparable to those other big ones without pulling shows and revenue away from those other big venues.”

— Courtney Astolfi (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The city will need to weigh the concerns raised by music industry experts against the potential benefits of the proposed concert venue as it continues to develop its lakefront plans.

The takeaway

The debate over the lakefront concert venue highlights the need for Cleveland to take a more holistic and forward-thinking approach to waterfront development, prioritizing year-round attractions and amenities that benefit the broader community rather than occasional-use facilities that could harm existing businesses.