Venue: Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts
Address: 300 North Elm Street
Town: Greensboro, US

Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, is an $88 million 3,023-seat performing arts facility. Its first public performance was a September 2021 concert which was followed by an official opening in November 2021. It replaces the 2,400-seat War Memorial Auditorium in the Greensboro Coliseum Complex; the auditorium was torn down in October 2014. The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro raised $35 million privately, to be paid over ten years. The city of Greensboro is paying $30 million. Construction was delayed a year so the foundation could get a $25 million bank loan to guarantee its contribution. The Greensboro Symphony and Guilford College's Bryan Series frequently use the facility. The facility will also hosts Broadway productions and concerts. The facility is named for Steven Tanger, CEO of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, who pledged $7.5 million toward the project in 2013. After working for a year, a task force recommended a state of the art center in February 2013. Groundbreaking was held April 26, 2017, and the first work took place July 13. In 2000, Greensboro arts groups wanted a new performance facility or changes to existing facilities which were inadequate. War Memorial Auditorium, with 2,400 seats, was too large for some events but had a small stage and orchestra pit as well as poor acoustics; Coliseum Managing Director Matt Brown had plans for $5 million in improvements but no funding. The Carolina Theatre downtown had only 1,100 seats. A preliminary study recommended a performing arts center with 1,700 to 2,000 seats, and a smaller 500-seat facility. The study also said the city had enough events for both existing and new facilities. Arts leaders wanted a more detailed study. A 2001 downtown master plan estimated the cost of a new performing arts center at between $35 and $45 million. A feasibility study was done in 2004. 2006 and 2008 bond referendums to renovate were unsuccessful. In 2008, Brown said