Shakopee Updates on Noise Level Solution at Mystic Lake Amphitheatre

UPDATE:

It seems that after this story ran, there have been some new developments.  According to the South Metro Scoop, the advice given was this - to Shakopee residents, and anyone else that is bothered by the noise level coming from the Amphitheatre - "if Mystic Lake Amphitheater is too loud at your house: call Live Nation during the show, not after. City staff said they'll send someone out to photograph a sound reading on the spot."

So it sounds like when they get a complaint, they are going to send someone out to check the decibel reading and see where the level is.  Then, adjust as needed.  They are also planning to tilt the speakers so that they are not blasting out in a direction where someone has made a complaint.  This will apparently happen DURING the show, and not after. This is so that they can actually check on the noise level while the show is going to they can get a real reading on what is happening.  Fun job! (sarcasm).

ORIGINAL STORY:

This is not really a surprise.  I am surprised, however, that it took this long for this news to come out.  Or perhaps it's been happening enough that now the realization is that there needs to be a few changes for next season at the new Mystic Lake Amphitheatre.  

FIRST OPEN AIR VENUE OF THIS CAPACITY SINCE THE 1970S

Mystic Lake Amphitheatre in Shakopee opened this past June.  And this summer has been filled with so many bands coming to the venue to entertain people in a venue that Minnesota has not had since something like the Met Stadium in the 70s.  That is, as far as an open air venue with this capacity.  The Met Stadium closed in 1981 and the Metrodome opened in 1982.

OPEN AIR CONCERT VENUE CAN COME WITH SOME CHALLENGES

Being that the new amphitheatre, owned by Live Nation, is an open air venue, the noise can carry quite far.  So there is a toss up as to what to do when you want to have outdoor entertainment in the summer months in Minnesota, and watching the noise from that open air venue.  It really shouldn't be a surprise.  And yes, here we are with people who live close to the venue complaining that it is too loud too late in the evening.

Shakopee does have a noise curfew of 10pm, while the shows at the amphitheatre usually run until about 11pm.

Mayor Matt Lehman says he's fielding citizen concerns from as far as Bloomington and Eden Prairie, which are some 10 miles away. Lehman says large-scale event permits allow venues like the amphitheater to extend sound operations until 11 p.m., an hour after the city's quiet hours.

NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES TO THE VENUE AND PERFORMANCES

The fact that there needs to be changes isn't a surprise to the Mayor and city council either.  They knew that there would probably have to be some tweaks after the first year that the amphitheatre was open.  And here we are.

The Mayor adds that they have been aware of this since the opening. They needed to keep track of how far the noise would be heard, weather patterns and also which genres are generally being booked on which nights throughout the week. Those things can only be addressed after the opening, obviously.

The thought is that it still isn't as loud as airplane noise or a train running through the area, but the noise from the venue lasts longer and could be more irritating if you are not at the show.

So, we don't know what those changes will be at this point.  But smart money would be on the music ending earlier in the evening for next season.  Shows are booked through September of this year.

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