Lincoln Amphitheatre expansion boosts capacity, attracts bigger acts

Each season at the Lincoln Amphitheatre is somewhat of a gamble. During that first week of ticket sales, Director Marc Steczyk says he knows if it’s going to be a good season on the first day.

Fortunately, ticket sales have continued to climb each year since Steczyk came on board in 2015. Those sales have driven the rejuvenation and renovation of the now 38-year-old amphitheatre, which regularly sees sold-out concerts.

On Friday, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Indiana Destination Development Corporation celebrated the near-completion of a multiyear renovation and expansion project that increased capacity by 700 and updated the facilities’ concessions, bathrooms and more.

The three-year phased renovation, which concludes in 2025, enables the amphitheatre to attract higher-profile entertainment while supporting rural development and tourism in the region.

The two new open-air seating areas, Starlight 1 and Starlight 2, comprise the bulk of the additional seating, adding 520 seats to the venue’s capacity. The expansion also includes Patio 1816 and Patio 1830 on the east and west sides of the original seating area, designed for patrons seeking “a more social experience” at shows.

To accommodate the increased attendance, the project includes a new restroom facility, mezzanine enhancements, and additions to green space that make these areas more functional. These components represent phases 3 and 4 of the expansion project.

The renovation began with a new patron entrance completed in 2023 (phase 1) and an updated parking lot in 2024 (phase 2) that added 300 additional parking spots within nearly the same footprint as the original lot.

A final phase, while not officially part of the amphitheatre project, is currently underway at the Lincoln State Park front entrance. This work will add an additional traffic lane to handle increased Saturday night concert traffic and improve the experience for Friday night campers.

The expansion follows years of growing demand. The venue, which reopened in 2016 after being closed for a season and a half, has seen steady growth in attendance and sold-out performances.

“That season was a marginal success—and we sold out three of our nine Saturday evening music events,” Steczyk said about the 2016 reopening. “We built upon what we learned from a programming perspective the prior year as we planned the 2017 season and sold out six of the nine Saturday night music events.”

By 2019, approximately eight of nine Saturday night music events were selling out, prompting serious discussions about expansion with the Department of Natural Resources leadership team. Those talks were temporarily halted by the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed after the venue bounced back in 2021 with eight of nine music events selling out despite a late start to the season.

Planning intensified in late 2021, with venue management working with Universal Design on conceptual designs for a phased expansion plan. A June 2022 meeting with DNR officials in Indianapolis accelerated the project.

The expansion has already proven successful in attracting higher-profile entertainment.

“From an operations perspective, the additional capacity opens up our ability to go after ‘next level’ entertainment,” Steczyk explained. “Without having the extra seats that we have this year to help spread the cost of shows around, we could never have gone after shows like Gabby Barrett and Josh Turner this year. Ticket prices would have simply been too high.”

Even with the increased capacity, demand remains strong. Five of the 10 Saturday night events for 2025 are already sold out, with two more approaching capacity. In just two days following the February 4 launch of 2025 events, single ticket revenue surpassed the total for 2024.

“Revenue that will, ultimately, make its way back into the venue as we continually reinvest into the venue and its campus of buildings,” Steczyk added.

The venue’s success extends beyond entertainment value, supporting broader regional development goals.

“I think the Amphitheatre’s success checks off many of the boxes of rural development, workforce attraction and employee retention, quality of place initiatives, and even population growth,” Steczyk said. “Also, the venue is a cog in the local and regional economic development scene… patrons spend money at local restaurants and convenience stores.”

The amphitheatre’s impact on tourism is significant, with tickets routinely sold in approximately 20 states and more than 165 Indiana municipalities each season.

The timing of the project aligns with both growing demand and the venue’s age. At 38 years old in 2025, the amphitheatre required repairs, replacements, and upgrades to aging infrastructure, creating a perfect time for this project to take place.

“The four-phase renovation at the Lincoln Amphitheatre over the past three years has been a tremendous effort,” said Amy Howell, Indiana Destination Development Corporation Interim CEO, in a press release.  “This project is a testament to what can be achieved with community support and collaboration. We are excited to invite and welcome patrons from near and far to enjoy a fresh, elevated experience and make memories for years to come.”

For Steczyk, who used to borrow the property manager’s paper cutter to create flyers for the shows at the amphitheatre, the updates and sold-out crowds at the venue are a testament to hard work and cooperation between the different organizations, donors, volunteers and staff.

During his remarks, Steczyk recognized all those volunteers and staff members as well as the supporters, and he broke down as he thanked his family, who regularly volunteer at the concerts—they aren’t paid at all, he affirmed.

“For nearly a decade, you guys have been selflessly giving your weekends as volunteers,” he said. “From my stepdad driving people up on a cart, to my mom selling you a ticket in the box office, to my wife and kids scanning your tickets, my family is woven into the very fabric of the patron experience.”

The Lincoln Amphitheatre’s 2025 Spencer County Community Foundation and Perry County Community Foundation Performance Series kicks off with a sold-out Saturday night event on May 17, followed by a special Sunday afternoon Amp Unplugged acoustic performance featuring Kashmir and their “Unledded acoustic tribute to Led Zeppelin” on Sunday, May 18.  Tickets are still available for the Sunday event at https://bit.ly/Unledded-Sunday.

For more information about the Lincoln Amphitheatre, including the complete 2025 season lineup and ticket availability, please visit www.LincolnAmphitheatre.com.