The Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts held a luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 20 to celebrate the success of its first year of operation.

The initial grand opening of the Tanger Center was scheduled for March 20, 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 restrictions on public events.  After a much longer delay than anticipated, the Tanger Center held is first public performance on Sept. 2, 2021, when Rhiannon Giddens and Friends took the stage.

The luncheon was held to mark the incredible success of that first year, which saw the Tanger Center host 431,092 patrons at 221 events and performances.

During the year, the Tanger Center had 89 sold-out shows and a record setting inaugural Broadway season.  The 17,414 Broadway season ticketholders set an industry record for a new venue.

In its first year, the 3,023-seat Tanger Center demonstrated its versatility – hosting, in addition to the Broadway series, concerts, comedy shows, the Guilford College Bryan Series, the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, the Greensboro Opera and all types of family entertainment.

Mayor Nancy Vaughan said, “In just one year, the Tanger Center has made an enormous impact on the City of Greensboro. The state-of-the-art venue has brought us such a diverse lineup of live entertainment events, electrified downtown Greensboro and generated millions in economic impact for our region.”

The $94 million Tanger Center is the result of a public/private partnership between the City of Greensboro and the Greensboro Community Foundation. Nearly half the cost of construction was raised privately and the city financed its portion with parking fees, ticket fees and hotel/motel tax revenue.  No property tax revenue was used to finance the construction.

Those attending the luncheon also got a preview of the 2022-2023 First Bank Broadway season that kicks off with Pretty Woman: The Musical on Oct. 25 through Oct. 30.

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