After the closure of the FivePoint Amphitheatre, the City of Irvine is developing a new temporary music venue called Great Park Live to open this summer. The venue will be smaller than the previous amphitheater but will feature space for tables and a similar scaffolding structure, according to Great Park Board Director and Councilmember Kathleen Treseder, Ph.D.

“People generally like living in Irvine, but one of the things that I do hear is that it’s a little bit too quiet in the evenings,” Treseder said. “Especially in the summer, they want to have something fun to go to.”

The Irvine City Council approved the construction of Great Park Live after they researched music venues and spoke with industry experts, promoters and operators to discover what talent would be interested in performing there, according to Treseder. They plan to host the local orchestra Pacific Symphony and organize an Irvine Nights series, which features local bands and provides residents with a picnic-like experience, according to Treseder.

Looking back on a 50 Cent concert she attended with her friends at the FivePoint Amphitheater, senior Ria Krish said she is fond of the old memories but eager to make more at Great Park Live as she plans to attend a summer concert at the new venue if her favorite artists perform.

“I think it’s gonna be a positive thing for the community because it can bring people together and give them something to do in Irvine,” Krish said. “Also, I feel like it brings people from outside of Irvine here, which is good for our local economy.”

Chemistry teacher Meghan Truax was interested in attending a concert at the Fivepoint Amphitheatre but never found an artist she wanted to see perform there. Development in the Great Park will create a sense of community and contribute to the local economy by attracting many new visitors from out of Irvine to attend fun events, according to Truax.

“I am excited to have a venue nearby because I was sad to hear the last one left,” Truax said. “It is always good for the community to have access to music and cultural events without having to drive far to see things.”

Great Park Live is scheduled to be replaced in 2027 by the construction of a permanent amphitheater that will be the centerpiece of the park, blending into the landscape but drawing the community in, according to Treseder.