The Right Productions expands from Detroit to Georgia with new 8,000-seat venue

By AI, Created 7:35 PM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – Shahida Mausi and The Right Productions are extending a Detroit venue-management model to Clayton County, Georgia, with The Arena at Southlake in Morrow. The new 8,000-seat facility is designed to host sports, concerts, graduations and community events while driving traffic, jobs and local spending.

Why it matters: - The Arena at Southlake is meant to do more than host events. - The project is positioned as a community asset that can support education, jobs, tourism and economic activity in Clayton County. - The expansion shows how The Right Productions is taking its Detroit-based venue strategy into a new market with broader civic goals.

What happened: - The Right Productions, led by Shahida Mausi, announced an expansion from Detroit to Clayton County, Georgia. - The new venue is The Arena at Southlake in Morrow, Georgia. - The Arena at Southlake is an 8,000-seat multi-purpose facility. - The venue will host concerts, sporting events, graduations, community gatherings, conventions and other large-scale experiences. - The project grew out of a need for Clayton County Public Schools to have a permanent home for graduations and milestone student events. - The Right Productions was founded in 1996 and has spent nearly three decades in entertainment production, venue management and community-centered programming.

The details: - The Arena at Southlake is located inside Southlake Mall. - The venue is expected to generate traffic for nearby restaurants, hotels and other businesses. - The venue is also expected to create opportunities for residents and students. - The Right Productions has built its reputation partly through The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre on Detroit’s riverfront. - The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre has long served as a cultural gathering place for Detroit. - Under The Right Productions, the amphitheatre became one of the Midwest’s most recognized outdoor entertainment venues. - The venue attracts national touring artists, legendary performers and thousands of concertgoers each summer. - The amphitheatre has helped drive tourism, support local businesses and showcase Detroit’s music and cultural scene. - This year marks more than 40 years for the amphitheatre as an entertainment landmark. - The 2026 summer concert season includes nationally recognized artists and signature events.

Between the lines: - Mausi is using venue management as a platform for community development, not just event production. - The model emphasizes youth exposure to careers in entertainment, production, hospitality, sports, operations and live events. - The Southlake project also reflects an effort to turn a familiar retail destination into a mixed-use gathering place. - The expansion suggests The Right Productions sees venues as engines for culture and economic development in addition to entertainment.

What’s next: - The Arena at Southlake will open as a new venue for major events in Clayton County. - The Right Productions plans to continue applying its community-focused approach in Georgia. - The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre will carry its 2026 summer concert season forward as a key part of Detroit’s riverfront entertainment lineup.

The bottom line: - The Right Productions is exporting a Detroit-tested playbook: build venues that draw crowds, support local economies and anchor community identity.