Long Beach takes center stage as new amphitheater opens with Snoop Dogg

The music echoed across Long Beach Harbor long before Snoop Dogg took the stage on Saturday evening, June 7.

As the sun set behind the Queen Mary and thousands streamed into the new 11,000-seat F&M Bank Amphitheater of Long Beach on Saturday, there was a palpable sense that the city was witnessing something bigger than a concert. This was evidenced by residents, business leaders, artists, elected officials and visitors from across the country converging on the new waterfront landmark for a celebration that felt equal parts concert, civic gathering and cultural milestone.

Longtime radio personality Gary Gero opened the evening, energizing the crowd and setting the tone for what became a love letter to Long Beach. Rising along the waterfront adjacent to the Queen Mary, the new amphitheater instantly becomes one of the region’s premier outdoor entertainment venues and a centerpiece of Long Beach’s efforts to position itself as a destination for tourism, culture and major events.

Days after Long Beach hosted the U.S. Conference of Mayors, leaders from cities across the country attended the amphitheater’s debut — including representatives from Atlanta, Sacramento, Richmond, Santa Monica, Fresno, Oklahoma City and San Diego. That collection of leaders once again put Long Beach in the national spotlight.

“Mayor Rex Richardson has been an incredible host,” said Danny Avula, mayor of Richmond, Virginia. “It’s been incredible to see the growth of Long Beach.”

Looking across the waterfront crowd, Avula pointed to what made the evening so special.

“People from all stripes are here,” he said. “Look at this crowd. It’s amazing.

“This could actually be the kind of healing community space that we all need to see in our communities.”

For Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, a lifelong Long Beach resident, the venue finally gives the city a stage worthy of its cultural contributions.

“There’s so much incredible arts and culture that originates out of Long Beach,” Lowenthal said. “It’s wonderful to have a venue to showcase it and bring people from surrounding communities here.”

For years, he said, residents had to travel to Los Angeles or to Orange County to see major concerts.

“Now people can stay here, enjoy world-class entertainment and support our local economy,” Lowenthal said. “Everybody’s excited to be here. And it’s just the beginning.”

The night also carried a personal connection for him as a graduate of Poly High’s class of 1988. Lowenthal attended school with Calvin Broadus Jr. — now known as Snoop Dogg.

“Calvin Broadus was exactly like Snoop Dogg is today,” Lowenthal said with a laugh. “Same guy.”

The venue itself represents years of planning and collaboration. Xinyu Yan, the lead designer for architecture firm Gensler, helped bring the project to life, and described opening night as the culmination of years of work.

“I think the whole energy is the most exciting thing,” Yan said. “This is the first amphitheater I’ve seen grow from the ground up.”

For Yan, the project reflects Long Beach’s ambition to reclaim its place as a cultural destination.

“They really want to bring this music culture back to the city,” he said.

Against a backdrop of harbor lights and the Queen Mary, surprise guests emerged to thunderous applause: Dr. Dre, The Lady of Rage, Kurupt, The Eastsidaz and The Twinz — transforming opening night into a celebration of West Coast hip-hop history.

The crowd responded with the kind of energy usually reserved for championship celebrations. For Anthony Chatmon of Compton, the evening was about more than music.

“I remember when Snoop first came out,” Chatmon said. “I enjoy what he’s done for young people. I enjoy what he’s done for the community.”

Nicole Haynes, who grew up nearby and has spent decades visiting Long Beach, said it felt fitting that Snoop headlined the venue’s first show.

“He’s been repping Long Beach from day one,” Haynes said. “The whole world knows what Long Beach is because of him.”

Others simply came to experience what makes Long Beach special.

“I’m just trying to catch a vibe,” attendee Morgan Reid said.

Looking around the venue, that vibe was unmistakable. Families sat beside longtime hip-hop fans. Visitors mingled with locals. Multiple generations celebrated together beneath the waterfront lights.

Visual artist and software engineer Saiti, for example, visited from Venice — and was struck by the diversity surrounding him.

“Look at the colors of the people here,” he said. “It’s beautiful. Everybody’s one. Everybody can enjoy the music.”

Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said he believes that sense of unity is exactly what makes the project significant.

“This is a game changer for the city,” Cordero said. “It brings the whole city alive.”

He compared the amphitheater’s potential impact to other major global events.

“Just like the Olympics,” he said, “this amphitheater brings the world and community to our city.”

The international appeal was already evident.

Jeremy Lovelace had traveled all the way from England to see Snoop Dogg perform in his hometown and left convinced he had discovered something special.

“It’s my first time in Long Beach and I absolutely love it,” Lovelace said. “It’s a hidden gem. To see a legend like Snoop perform here in his hometown on opening night is incredible.”

Looking out across the packed amphitheater, Lovelace said the city had exceeded every expectation.

“I’m going to tell everyone back home that Long Beach is where it’s at,” he said. “I’ll definitely be back. With the Olympics coming, now I want to come back and stay in Long Beach.”

Then came the night’s defining moment.

As thousands of cell phone lights illuminated the amphitheater and cheers echoed across the waterfront, Richardson returned to the stage carrying a special honor reserved for those who have left an indelible mark on the city.

“Tonight, we unveil the Key to the City of Long Beach for Long Beach’s most influential son, who has carried our city around the world,” Richardson told the crowd. “Snoop Dogg, this is your key to our city of Long Beach.”

The presentation drew one of the loudest ovations of the evening. Against the backdrop of the harbor, fireworks and a roaring hometown crowd, Long Beach honored the artist who helped place the city on the global map.

As the music faded and concertgoers slowly made their way into the night, the significance of the moment became clear. The opening of the amphitheater was officially a concert, but for Long Beach, it felt like something larger.

A city that has long produced world-class artists, athletes and innovators had built itself a new stage, and on opening night, with mayors from across America and visitors from around the world, surprise appearances from hip-hop royalty, and Snoop Dogg accepting the key to his hometown  — Long Beach showed exactly who it is.