The sign goes up at new Morton Amphitheater and KC fans have already nicknamed it
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The new Morton Amphitheater sign in Riverside was installed and revealed to the public.
- Fans nicknamed the 16,000-capacity venue 'Saltstone' or 'Salt Stone'.
- The amphitheater opens June 1 with a preview event and a season featuring major artists.
Oh Kansas City, you’re so salty — in a nice, Midwestern kinda way.
The sign has gone up at the new Morton Amphitheater in Riverside. The concert venue posted a photo of “the new glow” on Facebook Sunday and local denizens were quick to nickname it.
“Saltstone Amphitheater! I will never refer to it by any other name!” joked one Facebook user.
Catch the reference?
It’s a riff on Sandstone, the original, 1980s name of Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, a venue that’s been renamed numerous times because of its revolving door of corporate sponsors.
But it will forever be Sandstone to some folks.
Thus, it’s “Saltstone” for this new, 16,000-capacity arena backed by Live Nation at 6150 N.W. Music Blvd.
“Saltstone or Salt Stone is it’s unofficial name. Not sure if it’s one or two words. But that’s definitely going to be an unofficial name,” one Facebook fan predicted.
“Real KC folks will call it salt-stone... Iykyk!” wrote another.
“Salt-Stone is alive. Now bring back Sandstone,” demanded a fan clearly still in their feels.
The amphitheater opens June 1 with “Sunset Soundcheck,” a preview evening of live music and early access to the metro’s newest outdoor music venue. Proceeds will be donated to Steps of Faith, a Kansas City nonprofit that serves amputees.
Kesha is set to perform June 3. More than 30 artists are scheduled to play in this opening season, including The Pussycat Dolls, Dave Matthews Band, Jason Aldean, Mumford & Sons, Ne-Yo and Akon, Pitbull and Chris Stapleton.
The amphitheater’s Morton Salt birthright has creative juices flowing.
“Now known as the Salt Shaker!!!”
“The Salt? The Salt Box? Salt block? What’s the nickname people?”
“Will there be Morton Salty Margaritas at the concessions?”
“A Hologram Jimmy Buffett will greet you.”
The famous salt company moved its headquarters from Chicago to Johnson County last year with little fanfare. The company now occupies the top two floors of Building 40 in Corporate Woods, where its penthouse digs on the 16th floor offer expansive views overlooking Overland Park.
The company brought it’s famous mascot — the beloved Morton Salt Girl.
She celebrated her 100th birthday in 2014. The public voted her into the Advertising Week Walk of Fame on New York’s Madison Avenue, making the Morton Salt Girl the first female icon to be inducted.
She debuted last year in Kansas City on huge signs hanging near the top of the largest multi-tenant office building in Overland Park, and is also featured on a large sign in the building’s parking lot.
She announced her presence in Kansas City at a promotional tailgate party before the Chiefs-Raiders game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in October.
Her presence on the amphitheater’s retro sign — which some fans liken to Kansas City’s famous Western Auto sign — connected dots for one Facebook user who wrote: “Oh it’s literally Morton Salt.”
Yes, it is.
And speaking of salty ...
“I guess ‘Built by Live Nation, the company who makes all your concerts way more expensive’ wouldn’t fit on the sign?” snarked one music fan.
.jpg)