Nate Rau

nrau@tennessean.com

Metro has selected a group led by entertainment giant Live Nation to operate Nashville's new riverfront amphitheater when it opens in 2015.

Live Nation partnered with Red Light Management, the Nashville Predators and the Nashville Symphony to bid on the amphitheater operations. The runner-up bid came from Ryman Hospitality.

The city and Live Nation still must hammer out details of the deal, including the length of the contract. The key issue will be operating the venue so that it does not require taxpayers to help foot the bill.

The global live event firm laid out an ambitious plan for the 6,800-capacity venue located at the old thermal plant site on the west bank of the Cumberland River.

"This is a special project because it's Music City and we are extremely grateful and excited to have the opportunity to be part of this beautiful new riverfront park amphitheater," said Bob Roux, co-president of North America Concerts/Live Nation. "Our vision is to generate special concert experiences that provide fans, and artists alike, with long-lasting memories, and to establish the West Riverfront Park Amphitheater as one of the most remarkable venues in the world for live music."

According to the Metro document soliciting applicants to run the venue, the city reserves the right to limit the number of amphitheater events to 20 per year, in addition to 10 civic events.

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The Nashville Symphony will use the amphitheater as its summer home and will be treated as the preferred tenant, according to details shared by Live Nation. Symphony CEO Alan Valentine touted Live Nation and Red Light Management's track record operating outdoor venues, which he said would add "another dimension" to the Nashville's live entertainment options.

"I am confident that the Symphony's future performances at the amphitheater will allow us to continue our mission of delivering outstanding music to Middle Tennessee audiences and assure the Nashville Symphony's place as one of the nation's top orchestras," Valentine said.

The Live Nation group will report to the Metro Parks and Recreation board of directors, which will oversee the amphitheater and the new riverfront park, which cost $35 million.

According to details shared by the new group, Live Nation, which owns and operates 150 music venues worldwide and more than 50 amphitheaters in the United States, will serve as the venue's general manager. The company owned and operated Starwood Amphitheatre, which was about triple the size of the new riverfront venue, when it closed down in 2007 and then was sold.

Red Light Management will provide business direction and programming strategy, including leading the development of festivals and special events.

The Predators, who operate nearby Bridgestone Arena, will handle event-day staffing, corporate sponsorships and premium seat sales.

"We are proud to be part of the Live Nation Entertainment team on this project and appreciate Metro's confidence in and commitment to our group," Predators President and Chief Operating Officer Sean Henry said. "We are dedicated to helping to transform the West Riverfront Park Amphitheater into a world-class venue that features the Nashville Symphony as well as attracts the best musical shows and festivals for the benefit of our community along with drawing guests from outside our market."

The design for the facility was led by Nashville-based Hawkins Partners, Inc. along with Hodgetts+Fung as design architect, Smith Gee Studio as architect of record and Jaffe Holden And Schuler Shook as acousticians and theater planners.

Reporter Joey Garrison contributed to this story. Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and on Twitter @tnnaterau.