Historically, Goose Creek carried the reputation of a bedroom community lacking a downtown district or other community draws. Since the 1990s, the city had planned an amphitheater in its municipal complex to bring in entertainment and events. In 2024 with the help of national music acts, it opened the Joseph S. Daning Amphitheater, named for the former councilmember and state representative who secured $1.5 million in state funds for the $4 million project. The city’s communications team promoted the new offering with a variety of print, digital and broadcast marketing materials — everything from carefully branded swag bags to social media content featuring drone footage and photos of the construction process. Local news stations and podcasts covered the story behind the venue’s development, while the Charleston Radio Group provided in-kind promotional services through radio ads for an audience that the city had not previously reached. 

The opening concert sold more than 5,000 tickets, while the city’s social media content for the opening garnered more than 200,000 views. Goose Creek residents have embraced the amphitheater’s tagline, #MeetMeAtTheDaning, using it as a gathering place for everything from concertgoers to remote workers. As the city continues to spread the word on its new gathering spot, it is also looking to make the municipal complex even more of a community hub, surrounding it with mixed-use housing and a conference center.  

Contact Adam Kelly at akelly@cityofgoosecreek.com or 843.937.1581.