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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 23, 2004 The new Lithia Amphitheater is reflected in the ponds at the Jackson County Expo. The $3.8 million concert venue is nearly complete, with the grand opening scheduled for sometime after Memorial Day. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Meet the Lithia Amphitheater The new concert venue at the Jackson County Expo will be finished this week, except for seats and landscaping By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Jackson County’s largest musical venue — the 5,900-seat Lithia Amphitheater at the Expo Center in Central Point — is nearly ready to rock. "This is going to be the most fantastic facility between Sacramento and the Gorge," said Leigh Johnson, president of the Jackson County Fair Board and Friends of the Fair Foundation. "It is just a drop-dead gorgeous facility." Adroit Construction of Ashland, the main contractor for the $3.8 million project, will complete its share of the work this week. A grand opening concert is planned after Memorial Day. "It will be a big-name band," said Johnson. "It’ll be an act like Medford’s never seen before." A pyrotechnic display behind the stage over the large pond — referred to as "Bear Lake" — will light up the opening act as well as subsequent concerts. Advertisement "It makes a nice backdrop, especially with Mount McLoughlin and Roxy Ann behind it," Johnson said. The Expo hopes to raise another $250,000 to finish landscaping, paving and to build a lighted water feature in the pond that can be used by bands to accentuate their music, Johnson said. Bob Mayers, chief executive officer at Adroit, said the project came in within budget and the amphitheater will provide a dramatic setting for music lovers. "The atmosphere will be great in the evenings for shows," he said. A combination of earthen mounds and trees will contain much of the noise within the confines of the amphitheater, he said. Rounded masonry used in the construction will help alleviate sound reflection, said Mayers. A sound consultant was used to help design the project. Some minor details need to be wrapped up before Adroit turns the amphitheater back over to the Expo Center. "This week we’ll be finishing up the last hand rails on the project," said Mayers. Expo Director Chris Borovansky said more needs to be done before the Lithia opens, including work on the backstage and putting in the chairs. "Absent the chairs, it’s about 95 percent done," he said. Borovansky said the amphitheater probably will hold some smaller events before the opening concert to help break in the systems. Johnson said the chairs won’t be put in until about April so that everything looks new for the opening. The amphitheater will operate from about Memorial Day to the middle of October. Johnson said musical acts will be lined up after the first of the year for performances in the coming season. "We’re working with some acts right now for the fair," he said. One of the most frequent questions Johnson receives from the public is, "Why 5,900 seats?" Johnson said it’s because most big-name acts won’t play at an event that has fewer than 5,000 seats. The fair paid for the amphitheater through contributions, grants and $900,000 received from Jackson County, which owns it. For more information on how to give a donation, call 774-8270. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers