New York's Jones Beach Theater Rises From Ashes of Superstorm Sandy
New York's popular Nikon at Jones Beach Theater is reopening after Superstorm Sandy caused extensive damage and knocked it out of commission in Oct. 2012.
Live Nation Entertainment today announced that the Wantagh, Long Island, venue underwent months of reconstruction at a cost of more than $20 million. Sandy created a storm surge of 8 to 10 feet, submerging parts of the stage and seats impacting the concessions and VIP areas. More than three million gallons of sea water had to be pumped out of the venue.
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Said Michael Rapino, CEO and president of Live Nation Entertainment, in a statement announcing the reopening: "It was a priority for Live Nation to work quickly to return this historic venue to working order. Of course it was important to the artists who love to play at Jones Beach every summer and to the thousands of fans that come to a concert there. But it was also vital for the local community and the hundreds of employees who work at Jones Beach -- so we actually started preparing for the potential cleanup and reconstruction efforts before the storm even arrived. It's a testament to the single-mindedness and dedication of the entire reconstruction team that we were able to put Jones Beach back together in time for this summer's great lineup of shows."
The summer concert season kicks off on Friday, May 31, with the country group Rascal Flatts. Among the acts booked to play the 14,000-seat venue in the coming months are Fleetwood Mac, Rush, Dave Matthews Band, One Direction and Phish.
Improvements to the venue include new concessions operations and an expanded VIP area with new decking, updated furniture and renovated bathrooms.
See the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater's full summer lineup at the venue's official site.
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