Crowds filled the seats and grass Saturday night for the first show at the newly named Capital Region/MU Healthcare Amphitheater at Ellis-Porter Riverside Park.
Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Todd Spalding said the organizers capped the event at 2,500, even though more could fit, as a test to see how things went.
Spalding and Amphitheater Executive Director Lynn Cannon said they hadn’t heard of any parking or seating issues during the event.
Still, Spalding said, “We’re going to get better at how it all flows.”
Both said they were pleased with the process of the first show.
Organizers started out with four entrances to the amphitheater, three of which slowed down fairly quickly as people came in.
“The lines are moving,” Cannon said. “There’s still plenty of green space. People seem to be in a good mood.”
Spalding said people came out earlier than expected with some in the parking lot before the amphitheater opened.
“People are smiling, talking, laughing,” he said. “Things are working out.”
The amphitheater opened at 6 p.m. with headliners Clay Walker and Tracy Lawrence taking the stage about 8:30 p.m.
“People seem to be enjoying themselves,” Cannon said.
Of those 2,500 tickets, Spalding said about 40 percent came from outside of Cole and Boone counties.
While it’s still early to know the economic impact the amphitheater will have for Jefferson City, Spalding said it is likely to be significant with people traveling to the area for shows.
The next show is the Little River Band on June 4.