All roads starting in 2027 could lead to River Islands when it comes to entertainment in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

Work on amphitheater/events center is on target to get completed this fall to the west of the Islander Baseball Field at River Islands nestled against the San Joaquin River levee.

The steelwork for the Coliseum-style entrance structure is now being put in place.

River Islands has secured the services of C&K — that have booked venues such as the Stockton Arena and Bob Hope Theater in Stockton — to handle the lineup for the facility designed to accommodate 3,800 people.

As such, it is seen as an ideal venue for a wide array of bookings from concerts and comedians to festivals and events such as home and garden shows.

Those would target the Stockton-Tracy-Modesto market and beyond.

As such, it would arguably be the best situated venue given its access to Interstate 5, the 120 Bypass and Interstate 5 to take advantage of a market with 800,000 plus people.

It also would allow smaller scale uses such as weddings and even weeknight concerts using acts that typically draw smaller crowds and community-style gatherings.

Such events would target the River Island community/Lathrop market as well as pull from Tracy and Manteca given the short drive.

That reflects a market of 240,000 people in eight miles or so.

It is likely too small to use for less intense community functions such as a weekly farmers market.

Super-sized screen

& other touches

Setting the River Islands apart from other area outdoor venues such as the Fruit Yard in Modesto and Weber Point in Stockton is the inclusion of a supersized video screen that can be used for everything from concerts and weddings to events such as the State of the City program for Lathrop.

The stage will have rigging in place to suspend up to two tons of equipment.

That is another advantage over some venues where acts booked into them have to provide their own rigging.

In terms of larger concerts and even comic acts, River Island CEO Susan Dell’Osso anticipates C&K will work off acts touring venues at Indian casinos and the Bay Area.

The yearly calendar will include blocking out dates for some non-profit events.

One will be the American Heart Association whose event at Islander Field last year raised $500,000.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com