Pennysaver Amphitheater

The Pennysaver Amphitheater at Bald Hill (previously the Brookhaven Amphitheater), located at Bald Hill, is an outdoor concert venue owned by the Town of Brookhaven, and located in Farmingville, New York, United States. It has approximately 3,000 seats, and a capacity of 7,000 including lawn seating of over 4,000.[1] In June 2012, the venue was renamed the Pennysaver Amphitheater after being known as the Brookhaven Amphitheater for many years.

Pennysaver Amphitheater
Former namesBrookhaven Amphitheater (until June 2010), Bald Hill Cultural Center, Bald Hill Ski Bowl
LocationS. Bicycle Path Drive, Selden, New York, 1.5 miles north of L.I.E. Exit 63
Coordinates40.843859°N 73.021617°W / 40.843859; -73.021617
OwnerTown of Brookhaven
TypeAmphitheater
Capacity3,000 (seats)
4,000 (grass area)
Construction
Built1980s
Website
Pennysaver Amphitheater

History

Though outdoor concerts have been held at Bald Hill since as far back as 1965,[2] the current amphitheater was built in the late 1980s (replacing earlier portable and simpler stages) on the location of the former Bald Hill Ski Bowl, and modeled after venues such as the PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey.[3] It has been compared to such arenas as the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.[3]

The venue does not share the same popularity as the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater also located on Long Island, however many concertgoers have praised the sight lines. Throughout the years the theater has hosted musical acts such as Blondie, James Brown, B.B. King, Pat Benatar, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Twisted Sister and the 2002 Metal Edge Rockfest.[1][4] The venue has also hosted family-friendly movie nights.[5]

The Town of Brookhaven's management of the facility has not always been smooth.[6] One black mark occurred in the early 1990s, when a local promoter booked several high-profile shows that never happened, and failed to issue refunds, causing lawsuits to be brought against the town. Another venue manager was allegedly fired in 2002. From 2004 to 2008, the venue ran a deficit of more than $3.9 million.[1] The Town planned to stop providing more funding in the fall of 2008, but later decided to host at least three shows in 2009.[6]

In 2012, the Brookhaven Town Board approved a five-year agreement with JVC Broadcasting to manage the venue, and in June 2012 it was announced that the facility would be renamed the Pennysaver Amphitheater at Bald Hill.[7]

References
  1. "Brookhaven Amphitheater faces uncertain future". Newsday. February 27, 2009. Retrieved Aug 7, 2009.
  2. "Series of Concerts In Ski Bowl Begin". The New York Times. Aug 2, 1965.
  3. Fischler, Marcelle S. (June 2, 2002). "2 Guys Building an Entertainment Empire". The New York Times. Retrieved Aug 7, 2009.
  4. "Brookhaven schedule announced". Newsday. May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved Aug 7, 2009.
  5. "Summer family movies outdoors on Long Island". Newsday. June 22, 2009. Retrieved Aug 7, 2009.
  6. "In reversal, Bald Hill to host shows in 2009". The Times Beacon Record. March 5, 2009. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  7. (27 June 2012). New name for Brookhaven Town amphitheater Archived 2013-04-11 at Archive.today, The Times Beacon Record
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