SEATTLE — Live Nation and Seattle-based First Avenue Entertainment announced plans Thursday to build a new 5,500-capacity indoor music venue in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood, adding to the city’s live entertainment infrastructure with a project targeted to open in 2029.
The venue will be located at The Boxyard, across from T-Mobile Park and near Lumen Field, as part of an expansion of the existing entertainment complex that includes Hatback Bar & Grill, Steelheads Alley, and Victory Hall.
SODO is already home to various music venues, including Showbox SODO and WAMU Theater inside Lumen Field. T-Mobile Field also recently started hosting concerts. Lumen Field is known to host big headliners as well.
According to the announcement, the venue is intended to serve artists at a stage between theater and arena tours, with flexible staging, advanced production infrastructure, and artist-focused amenities designed for modern touring productions.
The project is being designed by Blueprint Studio, Live Nation’s in-house design and development group, in partnership with LMN Architects.
Plans call for a venue blending traditional materials such as brick, wood, and glass with modern concert technology.
In addition to concerts, the venue is expected to host other live entertainment events throughout the year.
FILE- Exterior of Victory Hall building. (Photo: KOMO News)
Victory Hall will be integrated into the project as a flexible lobby and events space, including programming tied to game days.
An independent analysis by Oxford Economics estimates the venue will generate $70 million annually in fan spending at local restaurants, hotels, and shops, producing $12 million in tax revenue and a total regional economic impact of $129 million each year.
About half of that impact is expected to come from visitors traveling from outside the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, according to the analysis.
The project is also expected to create more than 700 jobs, according to the announcement by Live Nation.
“Seattle has helped shape the sound of modern music, launching artists who have influenced culture worldwide,” said Jeff Trisler, regional president for the Pacific Northwest at Live Nation. “This new purpose-built venue is an investment in continuing that legacy.”
Trevor Gooby, who oversees The Boxyard property for First Avenue Entertainment, said the project would build on SODO’s history as a hub for sports and entertainment while creating opportunities for fans, artists and local businesses throughout the year.
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Nguyen said the venue would bring additional economic activity and support nearby businesses while strengthening Seattle’s entertainment districts.
Port of Seattle Commission President Ryan Calkins said early coordination on the proposal would help balance economic development with priorities related to freight mobility, industrial lands and waterfront jobs.
The companies said they will continue working with neighborhood groups, businesses and city leaders as planning for the project moves forward.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source komonews.com ’
