Valentine’s Day Kickoff at New Venue a Rousing Success
By Anderson Lynch
The much anticipated debut of Bowling Green’s newest state-of-the-art Indoor/Outdoor Amphitheater at Mellow World went off with very little drama on Valentine’s Day, with Kelly Clarkson headlining the Valentine’s Day kickoff - showcasing the grand opening of the latest venture in the growing Mellow World empire.
Approximately 72,000 fans were in attendance for the all-day event that ushered in a new era of entertainment options for South Central Kentucky and the Greater Nashville area.
“We are pleased with the initial reaction,” said Robert Loggia, Mellow World General Manager. “This has been a long time coming, a facility that can draw fans from throughout the greater Nashville area, as well as from Louisville, Lexington, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and other major areas in our greater region.”
The plans were initially met with resistance by some residents, but the anticipation has slowly grown, leading into the event.
The facility–part of a growing empire for Bowling Green-based Mellow World–was first proposed shortly after the airport moved to eastern Warren County to accommodate the growing demand for more air transportation in the area. At the time, critics were vocal not only about moving the airport, but whether a venue of this magnitude was feasible, even as the Bowling Green market continued to expand. Critics also questioned what would become of SKyPAC, which has remained a beacon for theater, orchestra, and intimate music events, as so many other venues are built.
Mellow World Indoor/Outdoor Amphitheater features plenty of modern-day amenities. The 1.9 million sq. ft. structure was enclosed for the event, but the sliding glass panels open up to allow for an open air venue when weather permits.
When plans were first unveiled, officials said they could envision Western Kentucky University using Mellow World Indoor/Outdoor Amphitheater for high-profile events for starters, with the ultimate goal of attracting a bowl game or another national sporting event.
The Mellow World Indoor/Outdoor Amphitheater became a reality, however, when serial entrepreneur “Mellow” Matt Pfeffercorn negotiated a deal with Metro Nashville officials, the state governments of Tennessee and Kentucky, and the National Football League to land the Greater Nashville Area’s second NFL team to locate north of the border. NFL officials are still tight-lipped about the timeline for those plans.
There were a few tense moments leading up to the Valentine’s Day kickoff. The initial headliner, the veteran Jelly Roll, had to bow out less than 24 hours before the show due to an illness, leaving organizers scrambling to find a suitable replacement in a short time.
The crowd was instead treated to a rare live performance from Clarkson, 67, who came out of semi-retirement and stepped in at the last minute. Several Nashville area celebrities were in attendance, and there was even a rare sighting of Hollywood icon Keanu Reeves, 85, in the owner’s suite with Pfeffercorn.
The switch to Clarkson was universally praised by those in attendance.
“I was looking forward to Jelly Roll, but, honestly, getting to see Kelly Clarkson was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Sarah Miller said. “I’ve always been a fan of Clarkson, and honestly was thinking I would probably never get the chance to see her live…so it was a pleasant surprise to sit up shop here overnight with an order of Nocturnal Cookies delivered, get into the venue for some Avocado Junction and then see a concert of this magnitude–in my own back yard!”
The day began with several local acts from the Bowling Green-Nashville area before appearances from long-time staples Blue Cabinet and Soccer Mommy, to name a few.
The concert is the first of several planned for the Amphitheater in the coming months.
Mellow World Creative Director 1.8 GPA Dragon said there are 50 dates already booked through 2052, with more expected to be added in the coming months, including the long-rumored Cage the Elephant reunion event and rumors of negotiations in the works for a future WWE Wrestlemania. There is a major fireworks display, tentatively named “Blazin’ Up the Sky,” being planned for Independence Day. And there are rumors that a Mellow World Theme Park could be in the works as well.
“This is going to be a destination spot for everyone from musicians to professional athletes,” Dragon said. “There has been a lot of time and effort to make this facility something that everyone in Bowling Green can be proud of. It’s an exciting time for the community.”
