Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The city of Pelham approved the purchase of a 43-acre property from Live Nation at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 17.

The property includes the site of the former Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, which will be demolished to help pave the way for the city to expand the already existing Pelham Arts & Entertainment District, with it connecting to the Canopy and Creekside developments and complementing the existing Campus 124 area as well.

The asking price for the property was in the amount of $5,943,000. Pelham is paying $5.3 million for the entire property. The property includes the amphitheatre, the parking lot, adjoining property along the creek in the area and frontage property on state Route 119.

“This is a transformational opportunity for Pelham,” City Manager Gretchen DiFante said. “This next chapter allows us to reimagine the area in a way that brings even more energy and vibrancy to the Pelham Arts & Entertainment District while providing amenities that enhance the experience for both residents and visitors.”

The move to purchase the former venue allows Pelham to expand both economically and logistically, according to Pelham mayor Gary Waters.

“The opportunity to redevelop this site allows us to expand upon our efforts to create a thriving district that is attractive to businesses, visitors and residents alike,” Waters said. “The addition of new retail, dining and entertainment amenities, combined with inviting outdoor spaces, will further establish Pelham as a premier destination in the region.”

The move comes following the closure of Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, which was formally announced at a press conference on Nov. 12, 2024. The Shelby County Reporter first reported on the closure in September. After closing the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Live Nation has shifted its focus to the new Coca-Cola Amphitheater venue under construction in Birmingham, which is set to open in the summer of 2025.

The city said they were grateful to Live Nation for what they did to make Pelham an entertainment hub for the Birmingham area and appreciate the long-standing partnership and positive impact the venue has had on the community.

Jay Wilson, a representative of Live Nation Birmingham, expressed the company’s excitement for the move.

“For nearly 40 years, Oak Mountain Amphitheatre brought many memorable nights of live music to the region,” Wilson said. “The City of Pelham has an incredible vision for the future of the site, and we’re looking forward to seeing how the future development will positively impact residents and the continued growth of the community.”

Now, the city will get to control the location and establish a base leading into the city’s entertainment hub.

The demolition of the amphitheatre is set to take place by June of this year.

The city can then decide to build a community stage used for events if they’d like, but will have the control to do what is best for residents to make sure the property is put to good use within a district already housing the Pelham Civic Complex, home to the Birmingham Bulls, and hundreds of residents within The Canopy apartments, also home to Taco Mac.

Further information on the purchase was shared at a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 18. DiFante shared that the amphitheatre being torn down was part of the initial agreement with Live Nation, and offered her vision for the new space.

“I think that having a venue that people come to only in the summertime versus being able to expand an entertainment district where people can come 12 months out of the year… is very strong economically,” DiFante said.

She also added what precipitated the sudden move to buy the property.

“One of the reasons why the city wanted to purchase this property is because Live Nation had a plan to turn this (area) into a residential area,” DiFante said. “This is a key piece of property for Pelham. Rather than letting that happen, our team got together and said ‘What does Pelham need? What do we want?’ So by purchasing the property, we will have control of the property, which is very important.”

DiFante shared that the city is not necessarily interested in building another amphitheatre.

“We’re interested in building restaurants and spaces together and other types of entertainment and retail,” DiFante said. “We’re really not interested in constructing an amphitheatre.”

Mayor Waters, who also spoke on the project, discussed its overall importance for Pelham and its surrounding communities.

“I think it’s (the purchase) akin to turning a page,” Waters said. “We’re moving on to new possibilities, and it’s very exciting.”