Tennessee Amphitheater
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File:Knoxville Amphitheater.jpg
The Tennessee Amphitheater, also known as the World's Fair Park Amphitheater, is an open-air amphitheater located in the 1982 World's Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee.
History
The Tennessee Amphitheater was built for 1982 World's Fair{{Cite web|title=World's Fair Park Amphitheater|url=http://www.worldsfairpark.org/worlds-fair-amphitheater.html|publisher=World's Fair Park|accessdate=2016-07-02|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630064357/http://worldsfairpark.org/worlds-fair-amphitheater.html|archivedate=2016-06-30}} and was designed by structural engineer Horst Berger, part of McCarty Bullock and Holsaple, architects of Knoxville (led by architect Bruce McCarty, the Master Architect of the 1982 World's Fair), and Geiger Berger, structural engineers of New York City. Berger was known for his work with tensile architecture, and the architectural design of the amphitheater is notable for the tensile fabric membranes that hover over the theater.{{Cite web|title=Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future: AIA 150th|url=http://web.knoxnews.com/pdf/1216aia_150_nominations.pdf|publisher=The Knoxville News Sentinel |accessdate=2016-07-02}}{{Cite book|title=Knoxville's 1982 World's Fair|year = 2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VVOPzWQ4Y8UC&q=horst+berger+tennessee+amphitheater&pg=PA87|publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn = 9780738568355|accessdate=2016-07-02}} The amphitheater has played host to a wide range of concerts, including classical music,{{Cite web|title=A Natural Showman|url=http://www.knoxvillesymphony.com/our-history/lamar-stringfield/|publisher=Knoxville Symphony Orchestra |accessdate=2016-07-02}} country music (e.g., The Aldridge Sisters),{{cite news | author=Wayne Bledsoe| title=Jacksons, World's Fair and local upstarts all fueled the 1980s Knoxville music scene | url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/local/jacksons-worlds-fair-and-local-upstarts-all-fueled-the-1980s-knoxville-music-scene-ep-359996917-356615591.html | work=The Knoxville News Sentinel | date=30 September 2012}} blues (e.g., Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown),{{Cite web|title=Ticket 70|url=http://tickethoarder.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html|publisher=Ticket Hoarder|accessdate=2016-07-02}} and rock bands (e.g., Weezer{{Cite web|title=Super-Chrono 1995|url=http://www.weezerpedia.com/wiki/index.php?title=Super-Chrono_-_1995|publisher=WeezerPedia|accessdate=2016-07-02}} and Widespread Panic).{{Cite web|title=Tennessee Amphitheater|url=http://www.panicstream.com/vault/tag/tennessee-amphitheater/|publisher=PanicStream |accessdate=2016-07-02}} Together with the Sunsphere, the 1400-seat amphitheater is one of only two structures that remain from the 1982 World's Fair.{{cite news | author=Amy McRary| title=World's Fair: The world came to Knoxville in May 1982 | url=http://www.knoxnews.com/entertainment/life/knoxvilles-225-years-the-world-came-to-knoxville-in-1982--33212d02-dcbe-66f2-e053-0100007fde44-381016021.html | work=The Knoxville News Sentinel | date=28 May 2016}}
The amphitheater was condemned to demolition in 2002{{cite news | author=Doug Mason| title=Professor sings praises of iconic World's Fair structure | url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/local/professor-sings-praises-of-iconic-worlds-fair-structure-ep-413259808-360375381.html | work=The Knoxville News Sentinel | date=18 September 2005}} but was renovated between 2005 and 2007, reopening in 2007 with then-Mayor Bill Haslam's inaugural address for his second term.{{Cite web|title=World's Fair Park Amphitheater|url=http://www.worldsfairpark.org/worlds-fair-amphitheater.html|publisher=World's Fair Park|accessdate=2016-07-02|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630064357/http://worldsfairpark.org/worlds-fair-amphitheater.html|archivedate=2016-06-30}} The amphitheater was voted one of the top 15 architectural works of East Tennessee by the East Tennessee chapter of the American Institute of Architects,{{cite news | author=Doug Mason| title=Area architects' picks for ET's Top 15 structures may surprise you | url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/local/area-architects-picks-for-ets-top-15-structures-may-surprise-you-ep-412345379-360064881.html | work=The Knoxville News Sentinel | date=16 December 2007}} and since its reopening in 2007, the amphitheater continues to be used for concerts (e.g., Logan Brill{{Cite web|title=3rd Annual Rocky Top BBQ Festival|url=http://www.bandsintown.com/event/9678690-logan-brill-knoxville-the-tennessee-amphitheater-2015?artist=Logan+Brill&came_from=178|publisher=Bandsintown|accessdate=2016-07-02}}) and by arts organizations in Knoxville, including the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra,{{cite news | author=Amy McRary| title=East Tennessee celebrations united by America's independence | url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/local/east-tennessee-celebrations-united-by-americas-independence-ep-411410817-359852071.html | work=The Knoxville News Sentinel | date=4 July 2008}} Knoxville Opera{{cite news | author=Alan Sherrod| title=Knoxville Opera's Daring Production of 'Tosca' Pays Off—Even in the Rain | url=http://www.knoxmercury.com/2016/05/03/knoxville-operas-daring-production-tosca-pays-off-even-rain/ | work=The Knoxville Mercury | date=3 May 2016}} and the Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble.{{cite news | title=Weekend Watch: Discover the Dinosaurs, HoLa Festival, Greek Fest and more | url=http://www.knoxnews.com/entertainment/family/weekend-watch-discover-the-dinosaurs-hola-festival-greek-fest-and-more-ep-632021591-354227021.html | work=The Knoxville News Sentinel | date=25 September 2014}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.downtownknoxville.org/tennessee-amphitheater/}}
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Category:Amphitheaters in the United States
Category:Buildings and structures in Knoxville, Tennessee
Category:Event venues established in 1982
Category:Restaurants in Tennessee