ROCKY MOUNT — The new operators of Carolina Crossroads Amphitheater say they are ready to transform the concert site into a world class facility and bring over 100 new jobs to the Roanoke Valley.

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During a press conference at the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce Thursday, principals and current managers with Atlantic One Entertainment LLC, who purchased the right to buy the site in January, discussed their plans for the future of the amphitheater and detailed some of the concerts and other events already scheduled.

Reading from a prepared statement, Atlantic One Public Relations agent JJ Ghatt said the venue will be officially renamed the Atlantic One Amphitheater at Carolina Crossroads. 

Ghatt said that under the company’s lease-purchase agreement, Atlantic One will manage the venue and produce a series of concerts and events targeting concertgoers in the eastern region of North Carolina and surrounding areas, including Richmond, Va.

While they plan to produce country and rock events, Ghatt said the company will expand the venue’s concert repertoire to include rhythm and blues, hip hop, soul, gospel, jazz, blues and pop music. “We’ll have every style of entertainment,” said Atlantic One Marketing Director Shawn Elliott. “We want to try to do things that will galvanize the area and give every segment of the community an opportunity to come out and enjoy the amphitheater.”

Atlantic One has two festival style shows scheduled for May. On the 16th, the amphitheater will host the Stimulus Festival, an all-day event priced at $1 per ticket. The event will feature vendors, food, crafts, a fun zone and live entertainment by Zapp, the Adam Stone Band and Maurice Wynn. “Given the recent economy, the entertainment budget is usually one of the first line items slashed,” said Ghatt. “Atlantic One felt it was important to introduce itself to their neighbors and signal an interest in forming an alliance with the community.”

On May 30, a second all-day festival, dubbed the Frankie Beverly Experience, will feature the R&B act Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. The event will also include appearances by Grammy nominated soul singer Wayna and neosoul artist Calvin Richardson.

According to Elliott, the company is in negotiations with other, nationally known acts to fill out its calendar and will announce future concerts once those deals are finalized.

Atlantic One will hold a job fair tomorrow at the Hilton Garden Inn in Roanoke Rapids. The company is looking to fill 150 to 185 part-time and full-time positions. While Elliott stated that many of the jobs will be part-time, the company expects to fill supervisory and managerial positions as well.

To further encourage involvement from the community, Atlantic One plans to host a series of town hall meetings to announce upcoming events, allow citizens of the communities surrounding the amphitheater to voice their concerns and release plans for the sites redevelopment.

Those plans include an effort to turn the amphitheater into a “green” venue using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified designs, products and materials. Said Ghatt: “The goal is to use the Green Build concept to entice and encourage national corporations, businesses, organizations and other entities and groups to build and grow their respective businesses here.”

"Most of the things that are there now are pretty much temporary," said Elliott. "Inside the amphitheater will be a new stage, all new buildings and restroom facilities. These will be permanent," Elliott said the company was unable to put a timetable on when the construction would begin but hoped to get the project underway soon.

At this point all funding for the project is private, said Elliott. When asked if they were seeking any federal funding from President Obama, he smiled and quipped "No, but we'll take it."

Elliott said the company will continue to operate from its home base in Rocky Mount, but may open a satellite office closer to the amphitheater in the future. 

When asked how the company’s hometown of Rocky Mount would benefit from the venture Elliott stated, “If we’re going to put a huge amount of people into Roanoke Rapids, of course it will increase hotel stays in Rocky Mount and restaurant business and the like."

"This isn't a money making venture for us," added Atlantic One Vice President Charles Elliott. "This is just something we wanted to do for the surrounding communities and not just Halifax. We want Nash, Edgecombe, Northampton counties ... they all border each other and we want to connect those counties and make a different day for everyone."