By Angela Holmes
CEDAR RAPIDS—As flood recovery continues, downtown is rockin’ and rollin’ with the recent renovations of the Paramount Theater and U.S. Cellular Center, and the construction of McGrath Amphitheatre.
“The renovation has brought the area back to life,” said Sharon Cummins, executive director of VenuWorks of Cedar Rapids, which manages the U.S. Cellular Center, Paramount Theatre, McGrath Amphitheatre and the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.
Since opening last May after two years of renovation, the U.S. Cellular Center has hosted a wide variety of events, from concerts and circuses to volleyball tournaments and arena football games. The center has hosted more than 60 events in all, attracting more than 300,000 people in the past year.
Reserved seating in the arena holds around 6,500 people while general admission can fit around 8,000. Two concerts, Florida Georgia Line and Lady Antebellum, have been listed as sell-outs.
“Country acts are very strong in this market,” Ms. Cummins noted.
During the past year, other concerts have included Korn and Rob Zombie. Classic rock bands Boston with special guest Starship are scheduled to perform Aug. 28, and metal acts Five Finger Death Punch and Volbeat will play Sept. 20.
After a nearly $35 million restoration, the Paramount Theatre re-opened in November 2012 with a sell-out performance by Harry Connick Jr.
While the new, larger stage, wider seats and added legroom have certainly contributed to the Paramount’s latest success, general manager Jason Anderson said the best boost has been from patrons and word of mouth.
“The biggest benefit I have had is patrons keep coming,” Mr. Anderson said. “More publicity brings more performers.”
The classic rock and country concerts by artists such as Willie Nelson, John Prine, Don Williams and Gordon Lightfoot have been popular, Mr. Anderson said. Following that trend, the acoustic Jackson Browne concert scheduled for July 19 is also selling well, he said.
“The intimate style is perfect for the theater,” he said.
The Paramount will host its first alternative rock concert July 13, as Three Doors Down brings its In the Basement tour to Cedar Rapids. The acoustic concert will not have a “mosh pit crazy” atmosphere as some alternative bands are known for, Mr. Anderson said.
“We’re trying to find something for everyone,” he said. “It’s hard to reach the alternative crowd. We are continuing to see what’s out there.”
He is working on securing another alternative concert as well as a mainstream country act for this fall.
While the Broadway series and Orchestra Iowa performances are still the Paramount’s bread and butter, Mr. Anderson is trying to attract a variety of people to the venue.
“It is my job to fill in the gaps of the audience,” he said.
The new venue on the block, McGrath Amphitheatre sits on the banks of the Cedar River and is celebrating its first season with a full slate of events this summer.
Uptown Friday Nights, which moved this year from Greene Square Park, attracted about 2,000 people its first night May 23, according to the Cedar Rapids Jaycees, who put on the event as a fundraiser. The 10-week concert series, which features local and regional bands, is held from 5-9 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 15.
The McGrath Music on the River concert series began Memorial Day Weekend with Natty Nation, “Reggae on the River,” and will be held monthly during summer. June 14 will feature Tallgrass with “Jamming on the River.” July 4 will feature a special guest for “Boots on the River.” Aug. 16 will feature DJ Dave A for “Rave on the River.”
Other popular events relocating to the McGrath Amphitheatre include BBQ Roundup from June 26-29 and the Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Downtown Drive-In Movie Series, which is now called CRBT Movies on the Riverbank. Family-oriented movies will be shown June 21 (“Despicable Me 2”), July 12 (“Frozen”) and Aug. 9 (“The Lego Movie”).
The ampitheater is also hosting several national acts this summer. Gavin McGraw will perform July 10, and the Summerland Tour 2014 featuring Everclear, Eve 6, Soul Asylum and Spacehog, is planned for Aug. 5. Seating capacity at the amphitheater is approximately 5,000 people.
The outdoor venue is a welcome addition to Cedar Rapids, Ms. Cummins said.
“It had been talked about for a long time,” she said. “Entertainers want to be outside during the summer; arenas get a little quiet.”
The revitalization of downtown with new bars and restaurants also provides a spark to the entertainment scene.
“For the patron, it creates a whole evening out experience,” Mr. Anderson said, adding that nearby restaurants such as White Star Ale House, Cobble Hill and Zins are popular among Paramount’s patrons.
A new sushi house, Kazoku, in the former Blend space at 221 Second Ave. SE, as well as the soon-to-open Rock Bar American Grill, next to Kazoku on Second Avenue, and Ruby’s Pizzeria, 223 Second St. SE, will add to the culinary scene.
Popoli Ristorante & Sullivan’s Bar, which opened in April at 101 Third Ave. SW, has the advantage of being located next to the ampitheater.
“We had great traffic,” general manager Brandon Godwin said of the first night of Uptown Friday Nights.
He added that the bar’s happy hours of 3-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close coincide nicely with the hours of the Friday concerts, as they don’t really overlap with the Jaycees’ beer sales.
“Our location fits perfectly with their events,” he said.
