Has a Great Colorado Concert Venue Seen Its Last Shows?
While it's never held a Taylor Swift or Bruce Springsteen show, a beloved amphitheater in Downtown Loveland is becoming all but a part of the city's history.
If things turn around and they can get the venue back on track, that will be great for the community; until then, things definitely don't look so good. What was once a great little concert venue, is in need of big repair.
What if they just can't make the repairs; what will become of the venue?
Loveland Foote Lagoon Amphitheater is in Bad Shape
In 1987, the City of Loveland spent over $15 million on its Civic Center Project, including the library, the municipal building, the Chilson Recreation Center, and a great lagoon/amphitheater, the Foote Lagoon. Nearly 30 years later, that lagoon has issues.
I remember when it all first opened; I was amazed on how great it all looked, including that cool lagoon. The fake whale fin coming out of the water has always been fun.
Hundreds of acts have performed on that little island in the lagoon, playing for everyone seated in the amphitheater that seats about 100 (not counting seating around the area). It has been a very neat place to see a show.
Over the last few years, however, the lagoon has had a leaking problem that they can't seem to fix. Reports say that they've done 100 patches on it, yet that rubber lining for the lagoon just won't hold most of its water.
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In 2024, the annual Foote Lagoon Summer Concert Series only hosted two concerts at the lagoon itself. Without water in the lagoon, it's just not the same; without it, you don't have that "island" that the bands are playing on.
Will Loveland Find the Money to Fix Foote Lagoon?
The City of Loveland is looking at a major budget deficit ($10M+) after voters eliminated a grocery tax in 2023; fixing the lagoon (which may cost over $100,000) just hasn't been in the "numbers."
Being such a great attraction that brings in tax dollars from people coming downtown for the shows, hopefully, the City of Loveland will find a way to get the lagoon leakproof again.
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