FirstBank Amphitheater, the 7,500-capacity concert venue opened in 2021 at Graystone Quarry in Williamson County, is under new ownership. The Nashville Business Journal reports that ticketing and touring giant Live Nation acquired the site from Rick and Nancy McEachern, owners of the property since 2014, for $23.49 million.
Live Nation has operated the venue, located near the intersection of I-65 and I-840, since it opened. NBJ’s report includes comments from a Live Nation spokesperson who notes that the McEacherns cite personal reasons for exiting the business, and the company will keep all current full-time employees.
“As we transition operations of FirstBank Amphitheater,” says a statement from the McEacherns, “we selected Live Nation because they are the best partner to support the venue’s continued growth while maintaining what artists and fans love about it.”
“We’re honored that Rick and Nancy McEachern selected Live Nation to guide this boutique amphitheater through its next chapter,” the Live Nation spokesperson says in a statement. “We have collaborated closely since the venue’s opening and share a vision for the future of FirstBank Amphitheater. The expansion of our longstanding partnership is a natural next step as Rick and Nancy step away from the venue’s day-to-day operations.”
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Beverly Hills-based Live Nation, which recently lost a federal antitrust suit tied to its industry dominant subsidiary Ticketmaster, has long had significant operations in our area. In October, the company is set to open 4,400-capacity indoor venue The Truth near its Nashville office in Wedgewood-Houston. That venue is in a position to compete with downtown 4,500-cap venue The Pinnacle, opened last year by rival firm AEG. By the same logic, acquiring FirstBank positions Live Nation to compete at least indirectly with Ascend Federal Credit Union Amphitheater. Live Nation operated the 6,800-cap outdoor venue since its opening in 2015, but lost its bid for the subsequent contract to local conglomerate Opry Entertainment Group, which took over operations this year.
Since FirstBank Amphitheater opened, highlights among its concerts have included Greta Van Fleet, Willie Nelson and Chappell Roan. This year’s concert season features performances from Sarah McLachlan, Paul Simon, Hilary Duff (who, interestingly, is set to play Ascend the same week) and the It’s Iconic Tour featuring TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue.
