At the center of this image is a placeholder concept for Bedrock Real Estate’s Rock & Roll Land Hotel & Theater. But that project is no longer in the cards. It’s viewed from a public space on the other side of Collision Bend in the Cuyahoga River, next to where a new 6,200-seat amphitheater is planned by Bedrock that replaces the Rock & Roll Land theater in its Riverfront plans (MKSK). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Riverfront amphitheater, separate hotel planned
Sometimes when one door closes, another opens. And other times that process works in reverse. When it comes to a proposed Rock & Roll Land Hotel & Theater in Bedrock Real Estate’s $3.5 billion Cuyahoga Riverfront development, the second scenario is reportedly in play.
NEOtrans first reported one month ago that Bedrock was considering an amphitheater as part of a riverfront property acquisition. It was that emerging development which effectively closed the door on Bedrock’s planned Rock & Roll Land Hotel & Theater.
According to a source familiar with Bedrock’s evolving Riverfront plans, and who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Bedrock is no longer considering development of its combined Rock & Roll Land Hotel & Theater.
The nearly $500 million entertainment complex was to be located at the southwest corner of Ontario Street and West Huron Road. But it could be accomplished less expensively if it was broken up into separate projects instead.
The 560,017-square-foot hotel-theater complex was to be built atop a 268,452-square-foot parking garage for approximately 800 cars. The three layers of uses was to result in a 17-story structure.
Bedrock acquired two properties through an affiliate called Starling Stone LLC for its new riverfront amphitheater. The blue lot was acquired by Bedrock in 2023 and the red lot was bought last month. This 2008 satellite view shows the old Tower City Amphitheater which was demolished in 2012 (Google).
Bedrock requested a $40 million Transformational Mixed Use Developments (TMUD) tax credit from the Ohio Department of Development for the project. Instead, it won a smaller TMUD award — only $9.1 million in 2024. NEOtrans first reported on this proposed project earlier that year.
The source said the hotel and its parking garage are still in play. Local real estate experts have speculated that the hotel could be a Shinola brand, a boutique hotel operator owned by Dan Gilbert’s Rock Ventures.
The name of the hotel was listed in the TMUD application but redacted. The redacted hotel name in the TMUD application was about seven letters long. It remains unclear as to whether Bedrock will be able to keep the TMUD with the new programming to be supported by it or if it will have to reapply.
NEOtrans reached out to Lora Brand, vice president of communications at Bedrock, for comment, confirmation and additional information. She did not respond prior to publication of this article.
The new amphitheater will be on the other side of Collision Bend in the Cuyahoga River from the Rock & Roll Land Hotel & Theater which will no longer be pursued by Bedrock as before (MKSK).
While the hotel project is still alive as a separate project, so is the performing arts venue. Bedrock and Rock Entertainment, both under the Rock Ventures umbrella, will instead build and operate a 6,200-seat outdoor venue on the other side of the Cuyahoga River’s Collision Bend.
“This outdoor amphitheater on the Cuyahoga River will be a dynamic community gathering place and a strategic investment in Downtown Cleveland’s growing experience-driven economy,” said Nic Barlage, Rock Entertainment Group CEO, in a written statement.
The amphitheater will be built on a 4.1-acre site on Stones Levee Road acquired for $6.55 million total among two buys by Bedrock affiliate Starling Stone LLC. NEOtrans reported last month that the latest acquisition was a 1.9-acre property at 401 Stones Levee, purchased from Joel Scheer’s Flats South Cleveland LLC.
There, Bedrock and Rock Entertainment will partner with Live Nation, a Beverly Hills, CA-based promoter of concerts and events, to offer concerts, festivals and other live events starting in 2028. That’s assuming if the demolition of two structures totaling 36,000 square feet and construction can start this year.
The nearest buildings were a conceptual massing for a Rock & Roll Hotel & Theater with future phases of Bedrock’s Riverfront development beyond (Adjaye).
“A new outdoor music venue along the Cuyahoga riverfront reflects the type of resident and visitor experience that we want here in downtown Cleveland,” said Mayor Justin Bibb. “The amphitheater will add a vibrant destination for entertainment and culture, helping to strengthen downtown, drive economic impact and advance our shore-to-core-to-shore strategy.”
The new venue, set at the bottom of a restored Eagle Avenue ramp from Ontario Street, will be larger than the 5,000-seat Tower City City Amphitheater that operated from 2001-11 across the street, at 1887 W. 3rd. But it was just about the only sign of life in this part of the Flats back then.
Now, Bedrock and Rock Entertainment’s amphitheater will be surrounded by activity. One on side is the new Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, also hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers’ practice facility, opening next year. The Cavaliers are another Rock Ventures company.
On the other side is Cleveland Whiskey, 601 Stones Levee, which opened a production facility and tasting room in 2024. Cleveland Whiskey CEO Tom Lix said he was planning a riverside restaurant next to his distillery here even before learning from NEOtrans about the amphitheater.
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