Polaris / Germain Amphitheater
The Polaris Amphitheater was a popular outdoor amphitheater located in Columbus, Ohio. When it was built in 1994 at a cost of $15 million dollars, the Polaris was one of the only large music venues in the central part of the state, seating a total of 20,000 – 6,700 in chairs under an awning, and 13,300 on a hillside. The first concert was The Moody Blues with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on June 15th, 1994.
Through the late 90’s and early 2000’s, the Polaris Amphitheater hosted anywhere from 20 to 40 concerts a year, with acts including rock, country, jazz, and music festivals. In 2003, the naming rights to the venue were sold to the Germain Motor Company. Though the Polaris / Germain Amphitheater had initially drawn large crowds, the construction of similarly sized venues in the Columbus area led to intense competition to attract headlining acts. Germain closed at the end of the 2007 concert season, and the property was put up for sale.
As the venue sat vacant, the concessions buildings behind the stage were vandalized, and some of the seats were removed. The amphitheater sold in 2012 to a property development company, and was completely demolished by May.
