Terminal B is an open-air concert amphitheater on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor, built by converting a 100,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse along the Lake Erie shoreline into a permanent live music venue. The $13 million project preserved the original steel frame of the warehouse, which had served the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s port operations for decades but was disconnected from public waterfront access, and topped it with a sculptural stage canopy nicknamed the ‘Bird in Flight’ for its lightweight, perforated-metal wings.
The venue officially opened to the public on April 8, 2024, with Governor Kathy Hochul on hand, and hosted its first sold-out concert on May 24, 2024, when pop singer Chappell Roan headlined as part of her Midwest Princess Tour. Terminal B now anchors the Outer Harbor Live Concert Series, pairing lake breezes and downtown skyline views with a natural, sloped-lawn amphitheater bowl.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 901 Fuhrmann Boulevard, Buffalo, New York
- Type: Open-air amphitheater
- Opened: April 8, 2024
- First concert: May 24, 2024 (Chappell Roan, sold out)
- Capacity: About 6,000
- Project cost: About $13 million
- Famous for: Adaptive reuse of a former cold storage and distribution warehouse into a lakefront concert venue
From Working Warehouse to Concert Stage
Before it became a music venue, Terminal B was a 100,000-square-foot cold storage and distribution warehouse on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor, part of the port complex the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority took over in 1967. Over the following decades it was leased to industrial and distribution tenants, including Tops Markets and Sonwil Distribution, and stayed off-limits to the public even as it kept working; it wasn’t until the building was later mothballed that it sat vacant ahead of redevelopment.
Rather than tear the structure down, the redevelopment team kept its original steel frame intact, converting the enclosed warehouse into an open-air structure while reclaiming several acres of formerly industrial waterfront land for public access. The result links Buffalo’s Outer Harbor industrial past to a new use as public parkland and event space, complete with shoreline paths, open lawn, and views back toward the downtown skyline.
Concerts and the Outer Harbor Live Series
Terminal B hosts the Outer Harbor Live Concert Series, which books touring artists across multiple genres for the natural, lawn-seating amphitheater bowl. Capacity is intentionally capped at around 6,000 fans, since the site has a single main entrance and exit along Fuhrmann Boulevard.
Concertgoers can expect food trucks and multiple bars on site, along with free first-come, first-served parking. The venue’s opening season in 2024 quickly expanded from its original slate to include additional shows after strong early ticket demand.
Explore more: Explore more iconic music venues.
Terminal B FAQs
What was Terminal B before it became a concert venue?
Terminal B was a 100,000-square-foot cold storage and distribution warehouse on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor, part of the NFTA’s port operations since 1967 and leased to industrial tenants for decades before its $13 million conversion into an open-air amphitheater.
Who played the first concert at Terminal B?
Pop singer Chappell Roan headlined the venue’s sold-out opening concert on May 24, 2024, as part of her Midwest Princess Tour.
What is the capacity of Terminal B?
Terminal B holds about 6,000 people, a figure kept intentionally limited because the venue has only one entrance and exit.
Get More from Terminal B
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Terminal B, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.