Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater draws in record crowds while boosting local economy
At a time when many entertainment venues are fighting to fill the seats, News12's Frank Recchia decided to ask Howard Saffan, president of the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, exactly how he does it.
The Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater annual economic report shows the venue is hitting all the right notes for the City of Bridgeport, pumping $50 million a year into the local economy.
At a time when many entertainment venues are fighting to fill the seats, News12's Frank Recchia decided to ask Howard Saffan, president of the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, exactly how he does it.
“Well, we live in the marketplace, my partners, and myself live in Fairfield County, so we know who our customers are, and our customer wants an incredible experience; and the secret to the sauce is that when you come in here, you can have local food from great restaurants." Saffan said.
"People want to get out, they want to enjoy themselves," Saffan stated, "and once you hit that magical elixir, then it’s great; your customers embrace it. We have customers who come here 567 times a year and we love having them here. You know our economic impact to the state of Connecticut and the city of Bridgeport is over $50 million per year. Why? Because we are giving quality products to people of Connecticut."
Saffan said the venue has established itself as the country's leading boutique amphitheaters, drawing a strong following throughout the state and generating robust ticket sales. He said its broad appeal has helped attract a diverse audience.
Sitting right off 95, the open air venue with its 60,000 foot dome roof does more than shield fans from the weather. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim says the amphitheater provides the town economic shelter by creating jobs and a huge amount of foot traffic.
"When you are looking for partners in the areas of bringing in business and entertainment and transforming a city, Howard is the guy who delivers on what he says he is going to do." Ganim said.
Saffan says he has big plans for the future of the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater.
