6,000-seat theater to debut Sept. 4 with Mexican band
By Ray Richardson
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — Entertainment options at Hollywood Park continue to surge with the announcement this week of a partnership between the 6,000-seat Performance Venue and Live Nation, regarded as one of the world’s top event promoters.
The Performance Venue, part of the original construction plans for Hollywood Park and SoFi Stadium, entered into an exclusive, multi-year agreement with Live Nation to have the company book and promote all of its live events.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be the exclusive promoters of this incredibly dynamic venue coming alive in the Los Angeles area,” said Rich Best, Live Nation’s regional head of talent for California. “We can’t wait to unveil what’s in store for this unique place.”
The Performance Venue is set to open in September and is expected to become another major attraction at Hollywood Park with SoFi Stadium and American Airlines Plaza. Los Angeles Rams owner/chairman E. Stanley Kroenke led development of the Performance Venue along with SoFi Stadium, which also is home to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Events planned for the Performance Venue include concerts, comedy shows, awards shows, eSport competitions, conferences and community gatherings.
Several concerts have been booked through March 2022. Caifanes, a rock band from Mexico City, will kick off the concert schedule on Sept. 4.
Three shows at the Performance Venue are already sold out — the Los Angeles Azules, a Mexican musical group; on Sept. 11 and English singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson March 12-13, 2022.
Among other shows scheduled in 2021: Black Pumas, Sept. 23; Devo, Sept. 25; Trippie Redd, Oct. 6; Alejandro Sanz, Oct. 29 and Christian Nodal, Dec. 3.
A spokesperson for Live Nation said the company is committed to bringing events to the Performance Venue that appeal to the African-American community and people of color.
“Absolutely, we will have a robust and diverse calendar of events,” the spokesperson said.
The three-level Performance Venue is situated under the same roof canopy as SoFi Stadium and will have its own loading dock. Amenities include luxury boxes, hospitality space and a private club with premium seats.
The venue was designed with three levels to create seating for events with projected capacities of 3,400, 4.400 or 6,000. No seat will be further than 164 feet from the stage.
Patrons attending the Performance Venue will be treated to balcony views that capture mountains in the distance to the east.
The venue also features a skydeck, interior and exterior balconies, and a two-story Kaynemaile chandelier, six luxury boxes, a 1,200- square-foot premium back-of-house hospitality space, with adjacent dressing rooms, and a 3,500-square-foot private club with 140 premium seats.
“The Performance Venue will be a sophisticated, intimate location capable of hosting world-class events,” said Christy Butcher, senior vice president of programming and booking at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “Hollywood Park is a true sports and entertainment destination. Our partnership with Live Nation will help us further our goal to deliver extraordinary entertainment to people in L.A. and across the globe.”
Hollywood Park officials also announced this week that the development surrounding SoFi Stadium is 50% complete.
When finished, the development will include up to five million square feet of office space, a retail district reaching up to 890,000 square feet, a 300-room hotel, and up to 2,500 new residences. The expansive outdoor-oriented districts will border a six-acre artificial lake while being interlaced with 25 acres of tree-lined public parks and grand plazas.
“It is exciting to witness this new destination take shape into what has become one of Los Angeles’ most profound and architecturally significant landmarks,” said Jason Gannon, managing director of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “The entire 300-acre development encapsulates world-class design and architectural elements that present an incredible experience unlike any other development in the country.
“We look forward to continue bringing the destination to life and further realizing Stan Kroenke’s vision for Los Angeles’ newest destination.”
Ray Richardson is a contributing writer for The Wave. He can be reached at rayrich55@gmail.com.
