Painting an amphitheater for your namesake band
Some companies get their names from strategy sessions and branding consultants. Widespread Solutions got its name from a band.
Owner Daniel Payne named the company after Widespread Panic as a reflection of just how much music means to him. So when the opportunity came to help paint the new Allianz Richmond Amphitheater, Payne saw it as more than another commercial project. For a devoted concert fan, it felt like a dream gig.
The amphitheater itself was hard to miss. Positioned against some of Richmond’s best skyline views, the venue was designed as a landmark entertainment destination capable of hosting thousands of fans.
The work stretched across eight months, with crews ranging from five to eight painters daily. The team started high above the stage, coating ceiling steel with a two-part epoxy system before working downward through the massive venue. They covered a variety of substrates, from railings and lighting to bathrooms and sound booths.
Wood substrates had to be cleaned and sealed, while artist amenity spaces demanded polished interior finishes capable of standing up to heavy public use.
Access became one of the defining challenges of the project. Crews maneuvered 65-foot scissor lifts inside the structure and 80-foot boom lifts outside while other trades crowded the same work zones. The tightest conditions came inside the stage pit area, where limited lift access complicated overhead work.
Scheduling pressure never really eased. Concert dates had already been booked before construction wrapped, leaving little room for delays. Last-minute owner changes added new railings and substrate enhancements while the clock continued ticking toward opening day.
The crew relied on both gas-powered and electric sprayers depending on height, substrate, and environmental conditions, adapting constantly as site conditions evolved around them. Even unfinished ground conditions around portions of the venue complicated lift movement and staging.
Coordination became just as important as craftsmanship. Operations Manager Lazaro Estrada and Crew Lead Salvador Mayorga stayed in constant communication with the general contractor and surrounding trades to keep work flowing smoothly.
When the amphitheater finally opened, Widespread Solutions had completed every phase on time and ahead of schedule. The crew could look across the finished venue knowing their work now framed a space where Richmond would gather for concerts and events for decades to come.
Then came the perfect encore. Four months after project completion, Widespread Panic took the stage.
“The best part was seeing a major Richmond landmark transform into life,” Payne said. “I would confidently say this project was a dream come true!”
