For Release May 29, 2025
$60 Million Gift from Farmer Family Foundation Sets the Stage for Cincinnati’s Next Iconic Music Venue: The Farmer Music Center
Largest Philanthropic Gift to the Arts in Recent Cincinnati History Spurs the Transformation of Cincinnati’s Live Music Scene
CINCINNATI, OH (May 29, 2025)—Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Music and Event Management, Inc. (MEMI) announced today that their new state-of-the-art music and entertainment venue – previously referred to as ‘Riverbend 2.0’ – will be officially named ‘The Farmer Music Center.’ The name honors a transformative $60 million gift from the Farmer Family Foundation, marking the largest philanthropic commitment to the arts in recent Cincinnati history. This landmark donation serves as the cornerstone of the project, expected to generate $82 million in annual economic impact, draw increased tourism and create hundreds of jobs driving long-term growth and vitality for the region.
“Music and live entertainment have long played an important role in bringing people together,” said Scott D. Farmer, Executive Chairman of Cintas Corporation and Trustee with the Farmer Family Foundation. “It energizes communities, creates shared experiences and drives meaningful economic impact. We’re proud to support the creation of The Farmer Music Center to enhance the quality of life and serve as a catalyst for growth and connection across the region.”
“We are deeply grateful to the entire Farmer family, represented by the Farmer Family Foundation, for their vision, support and belief in the life-changing power of music,” said Robert McGrath, CSO President and CEO. “This extraordinary gift from the Farmer Family Foundation reflects a tremendous vote of confidence in the project and represents a transformative investment in Cincinnati’s future, one that will enhance the quality of life in our region for generations to come. By naming this venue ‘The Farmer Music Center,’ we honor the family’s generosity and ensure that its legacy will be forever linked to the cultural vitality of Cincinnati.”
MODERNIZED EXPERIENCE FOR NEXT-GEN AUDIENCES & ARTISTS
Set to open in Spring 2027, The Farmer Music Center will redefine the concert experience for both audiences and performers, while strengthening Cincinnati’s status as a premier destination for live events. Designed with a cutting-edge vertical design with both the concertgoer and artist in mind, the venue will offer 8,000 reserved seats and a 12,000-capacity general admission lawn. Guests will enjoy upgraded amenities including expanded concessions and restrooms as well as 300,000 square feet of concourse and new club space taking advantage of the vertical design to host a wide variety of onsite offerings.
“We are extremely grateful to the Farmer Family Foundation and all the donors and supporters of this project,” said Mike Smith, CEO of MEMI. “The Farmer Music Center is more than a music venue — it is a promise to attract and present world-class entertainment and deliver unforgettable live music experiences to Cincinnati and the Tri-State.”
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
As the centerpiece of the new music and entertainment campus, alongside the existing Riverbend Music Center and PNC Pavilion, The Farmer Music Center will play a vital role in the region’s economic growth. The new venue is expected to generate a projected annual economic impact of $82 million, boost tourism, and create jobs while contributing significantly to the local and state tax base. In the first ten years of operation, the venue is expected to generate at least $15 million in city tax revenues and $7 million in state tax revenues, helping support Cincinnati’s long-term economic vitality.
The CSO and MEMI operate under a unique funding model – one of the most innovative in the industry – that directly supports the CSO’s position as a vibrant, top-tier American orchestra. All net revenues from MEMI are reinvested into the CSO, ensuring the orchestra serves the Cincinnati community through exceptional music, music education programs and community concerts. Annually, the CSO produces over 180 free and low-cost community events and activities, reaching more than 970,000 people in the greater Cincinnati community. These efforts include affordable tickets to CSO and Pops performances at Music Hall, free summer Brady Block Parties in neighborhoods across the region, and collaborative community events with local artists, residents and organizations.
“We’re incredibly excited about what The Farmer Music Center represents as a space for live entertainment and a vibrant hub that brings people together and supports the broader community,” said Mary Beth Martin, Executive Director of the Farmer Family Foundation. “This state-of-the-art venue reflects our commitment to investing in experiences that enrich lives and create lasting value. This project also supports the mission of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, which is deeply rooted in serving the community. We are excited to see the venue come to fruition.”
A press conference with additional details about the project will be scheduled for later this summer. Additional information will be shared at that time.
FARMER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Farmer Family Foundation is diligent in identifying programs with the potential to make a significant impact and transform peoples’ lives. The focus is on philanthropic investments that meet essential community needs and those that ensure Greater Cincinnati is thriving. The Foundation prioritizes investments that enhance K-12 education for at-risk individuals and enable economic self-sufficiency. Beyond Greater Cincinnati, investments are selectively made to support health care research.
Trustees – Joyce Farmer, Robert Coletti, Scott and Mary Farmer, Amy F. and George Joseph and Kendell Coletti Mountain. Richard T. Farmer, Founder and Chair Emeritus, and Brynne F. Coletti, Trustee Emeritus.
CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
With a legacy dating back 130 years, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is considered one of America’s finest and most versatile ensembles. In the 2025–26 season, Cristian Măcelaru joins the Orchestra as its 14th Music Director, after serving as Music Director Designate in the 2024–25 season. The Orchestra also performs as the Cincinnati Pops, founded by Erich Kunzel in 1977 and currently led by John Morris Russell with Damon Gupton serving as Principal Guest Conductor. The CSO further elevates the city’s vibrant arts scene by serving as the official orchestra for the Cincinnati May Festival, Cincinnati Opera and Cincinnati Ballet.
The CSO is committed to its vision to be the most relevant orchestra in America, realized through a focus on serving the entire community and continually innovating ways in which the Orchestra presents music. Recent examples include One City/One Symphony, fostering city-wide discussions through music; Lumenocity®, blending music and visual art with Music Hall’s illuminated façade; Look Around, uniting Cincinnati’s arts community at Washington Park; and CSO Proof, the Orchestra’s flagship program for innovative concert experiences and formats. The CSO is also dedicated to expanding access to music education to nurture and inspire lifelong learning. The Orchestra brings music education to the Greater Cincinnati community through youth orchestras, Musicians in Schools and one of the United States’ longest-running Young People’s Concerts series, launched over 100 years ago. cincinnatisymphony.org.
MUSIC & EVENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
Music & Event Management, Inc. (MEMI) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and a leading promoter of live entertainment. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, MEMI has earned national recognition for its innovative approach to creating, booking, producing, and marketing exceptional live events. While firmly rooted in Southwest Ohio, MEMI has expanded its reach across the United States in markets including Kansas City, Missouri; Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Interlochen, Michigan.
MEMI owns and operates several of Ohio’s premier music venues, including The Andrew J Brady Music Center®, The ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park, Riverbend Music Center, PNC Pavilion, Stuart & Mimi Rose Music Center at The Heights, The Taft Theatre, and The Ballroom at The Taft and produces signature concert series and cultural events such as the Longworth Anderson Series at Memorial Hall and Cincy Cinco. For more information, visit www.MEMI.biz.