LONG BEACH, Calif. — Construction has not yet begun on the City of Long Beach’s planned temporary amphitheater next to the Queen Mary, but the project’s price tag has already surged, intensifying criticism over city priorities and what some residents describe as Mayor Rex Richardson’s pet project.
Originally approved at $14 million in April 2025, the amphitheater is now projected to cost $21.3 million. City staff are asking the City Council this week to approve an additional $7.3 million, citing rising material and labor costs, tariffs, design refinements, environmental measures, and upgraded furniture, fixtures and equipment intended to deliver a “higher-quality” and more competitive venue.
Approximately $4 million of the original budget was used for emergency maintenance and site improvements in the Queen Mary leasehold area, costs city officials say were necessary regardless of the amphitheater. The new funding request includes $2.2 million in increased construction costs, $4.3 million for upgraded furnishings and equipment, $400,000 tied to project delays that pushed the opening from spring to summer 2026, and contingency funds.
To cover the rising costs, the city plans to borrow from the Tidelands Fund, with repayment dependent on future amphitheater profits over an estimated eight-year period. During that time, the borrowed funds would be unavailable for other major capital improvement projects, and city documents acknowledge that issuing debt could be necessary if Tidelands cash is needed before repayment is complete.
Supporters, including Mayor Richardson, have long promoted the amphitheater as a signature economic development project tied to the Queen Mary’s revival. But critics question why millions more are being committed to a temporary entertainment venue while residents continue to raise concerns about public safety, street conditions, homelessness, and enforcement gaps.
City projections, based on financial models from venue operator Legends Global, estimate the amphitheater could generate about $7.4 million in net profit over its 10-year lifespan after repaying development costs. Still, with construction not yet underway and costs climbing, the project has become a flashpoint in a broader debate: why is the mayor’s marquee amphitheater moving forward while other longstanding city issues remain unaddressed?
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