Rebuilt Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Opens for 2013 Season

After incurring significant flood damage from the wrath of Hurricane Sandy last fall, a rebuilt Nikon at Jones Beach Theater -- that cost more than $20 million -- was celebrated Thursday, a day before the 2013 summer concert schedule kicks off.

The first concert at the famed Wantagh music venue Thursday will feature the Rascal Flatts, who attended the opening ceremony and emphasized how honored they are to be the first band that will take the stage in 2013.

The orchestra seating area of the 14,000-seat facility was under water during the Oct. 29 superstorm along with flooding damage to other sections of the stadium. 

"Our singular goal when we first came out here and looked at the devastation was that we had to bo open in time for this entire 2013 season," said John Ahrens, senior vice president of facilities at Live Nation, which is the concert promoter for the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater. "We didn't want to miss any of it because it's important to the folks of Long Island and the entire region." 

Prior to work beginning on reconstruction the damaged performing arts center, more than 3 million gallons of sea water had to be pumped out of the venue, according to Live Nation officials.

The stage and venue's boardwalk had to be completely rebuilt from scratch. 

"The amount of work and Live Nation did to reconstruct and rebuild the stadium is amazing," said New York State Parks Deputy Regional Director George Gorman. "It's really kind of historic and monumental how quickly all the work was accomplished."