The Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre.
File photo
File photo
“It’s just a place in Cobb County that’s been sitting there wasting,” said Foust, who is partners with Walker in Amazon Tickets and Events. “People want to come to the concerts and have fun and play on the lawn.”
The 2,400-seat amphitheatre, located at 5239 Floyd Road in Mableton, opened in 2003, with the county paying $1.3 million of its $7.1 million construction cost. But since then, the county has put up millions more to cover expenses when ticket sales and facility rentals fell short. Due to budget cuts, the county has now gotten out of putting on its own shows, leaving it up for rental only.
With independent promoters putting on shows this year, Elizabeth Weaver, Cobb County’s division director of cultural affairs, said the amphitheatre could “easily” reach record numbers of 30,000 yearly visitors achieved years ago.
“The public won’t see a difference,” she said. “They’re still going to see a great concert that’s just being promoted by private promoters instead of the county.”
Mable House will have the first of five planned summer country concerts tonight when Chris Cagle performs starting at 8 p.m. Other shows include Steel Magnolia, June 29; Lorrie Morgan, July 27; Marty Stuart, Aug. 11; and Little Texas and Restless Heart on Aug. 24.
Foust said he plans to expand his promotions in coming years, adding more country shows, along with rock and pop concerts. But he expects this to be the biggest year at Mable House since 2009, when Sara Evans, B.B. King and Montgomery Gentry performed at the site.
“The response we’re getting from the community is, ‘Oh my, we’re finally getting some concerts back,’” Foust said.
The venue will also host a number of jazz shows this year, including the all-day Atlanta Smooth Music Festival on Sept. 15. Joe Cleveland, whose Jazz Grooves LLC is promoting the event for the fifth year, said Mable House is the finest outdoor concert site in the Atlanta area.
“It’s a hidden gem compared to Chastain,” he said. “All the (reserved) seats are covered, so it’s a rain or shine facility,” he said.
Cleveland said Mable House also allows plenty of space for concert-goers to set up tables, even allowing them to run out to the store for food or drinks should they run out.
Weaver said the amphitheatre will continue to allow performances by school music groups and churches this year, with nine high schools and middle schools and six churches scheduling events.
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Nothing on either Accessatlanta nor Cobb County website. The management company had to come out of pocket for marketing, which is rare.
The promoter spends $$$$ on ads on one of two local country stations, just NOT the station that actually PLAYS the artists music.
Please turn the Mable House over to a private company that'll big sponsors and do right by this great venue.
Fulton built Wolf Creek off Camp Creek Pkwy, excellent location. Easy to get to, easy to leave from. Amenities such as restaurants close by for those making it a date night
Lakewood sits near the Connector and the end of Langford Parkway. If Langford were to be ever completed, it would sit near a straight shot to Dekalb County. Minutes from Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead.
Gwinnett Arena. Near Discover Mills Mall and sits next to Interstate 85
Chastain. Has location issues like Mable House and the affluent area still draws people to it. Several great shows occur there
Mable House. Long drive from anywhere to get to it. Nothing to do near it before or after shows. Failed revitalization plans (mostly studies, useless meetings and no action).
You've done a nice job of pointing the pluses of each venue without mention of the minuses, which they all have. Nothing is perfect.
It's not the location but who is running it.
I would go the the Fred in Peachtree City, before traveling into the boondocks of Mableton.
Before catching a show at the Fred, take your bike and take a ride through their (safe) 100 miles of bike paths and trails.
There's no money or inverstors interested in south Cobb.
The amphitheater is very nice to attend, however, the drive and the surrounding locale is just not enjoyable. Coming from I-285, Bankhead Highway, excuse me, Veterans Memorial Parkway is deplorable. Coming from Austell Road, not much better.
Unlike Kevin Costner, they built it and no one comes.
Location is NOT the issue as folks were coming from Gwinnett to see Travis Tritt, for example. Better artists and more marketing plus as another mentioned, allowing a private company to manage it would open up larger sponsors.
And you may be right that it may have faired better in East Cobb since the Commission (and school board for that matter) tend to give more of their attention to East Cobb over the rest of the County.
Ever been to Lakewood Amphitheatre?
Not exactly the best part of Atlanta, and they seem to do just fine.
Please Cobb County, employe a private management company to book events and stay out of it. Hopefully, these independent companies can give a good variety and good number of shows this summer. We all know what happens when the Commission gets involved...