SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Construction on the Lakeview Amphitheater is almost complete and is set to open on schedule in August, to coincide with the New York State Fair.
"It is on time and we're on budget and every things been going very well," said County Executive Joanne Mahoney, R-Onondaga County.
Aug. 24 is the date the county will take control of the site. Other questions, like who will be the opening act, remain unanswered.
"There is a plan to have a concert here and there's a lot of irons in the fire."
Mahoney did say that the amphitheater will be ready to host one of the Fair's big acts. According to the State Fair, it's happy to experiment with a grandstand performance at the new amphitheater this year for when it officially moves there next year.
"I've been in talks with the county about the logistics of moving people back and forth and how we get people to the fair and obviously the county and the fair wants to keep fair vendors happy," said State Fair Acting Director Troy Waffner.
Waffner says the amphitheater will allow the Fair to hold performances the grandstand just wasn't able to keep up with anymore. The real test will come next year when all grandstand performances take place at the amphitheater.
"If we can generate the excitement at the grandstand for shows during the Fair, it's going to help drive attendance to the fair and excitement for the fair."
That's one of the reasons many people are excited about what this project could bring to Central New York.