All the world’s a stage: Five new venue openings

The grand opening of Kai Tak Sports Park, a $3.84bn multipurpose complex in Hong Kong, took place at the beginning of this month.

The ASM Global-operated venue includes a 50,000-capacity main stadium with a retractable roof and a 10,000-capacity indoor arena.

“With the completion and opening of Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong is better positioned to actively attract large-scale international events, drawing more visitors and investments, injecting new vitality into the development of sports and performing arts culture industries,” says John Sharkey, CEO of Kai Tak Sports Park.

“We will make full use of the park’s international standard advanced sports facilities to assist the Hong Kong Government in realising the vision of an international sports platform, developing the sports industry’s home court economy, and welcoming entertainment events to shine on the international stage at Kai Tak!”

AEG, meanwhile, opened its flagship Nashville venue, The Pinnacle, at the end of last month with a sold-out show headlined by Kacey Musgraves.

“Hong Kong is better positioned to actively attract large-scale international events”

Located in the heart of the Nashville Yards development, the 4,500-capacity venue is a partnership between entertainment giant AEG and developer Southwest Value Partners.

The opening week included concerts by ILLENIUM, Killswitch Engage, Fit for a King, DEADMAU5 and The Turnpike Troubadours. Acts including Journey T-PAIN and Jason Isbell are lined up for later this month.

Elsewhere in North America, Live Nation Canada and Canadian rapper Drake have announced plans to open a second History music venue.

Following the launch of History Toronto in 2021, the partners intend to open a 2,000-capacity, two-story live music venue in Ottawa in early 2026.

The venue is being built in collaboration with the National Capital Commission (NCC), which announced the purchase of the former Chapters building on the corner of Rideau Street and George Street in January 2024.

“I have been promoting shows in Dundee for over 30 years and see a gap in the market for a venue of this size”

Meanwhile, in Dundee, Scotland, one of the city’s most experienced promoters is helping to transform a former cinema and bingo hall into one of the country’s largest new venues, with a proposed final capacity of about 3,500.

Due to open mid-year, LiveHouse will be located in the heart of the city centre and will provide touring acts with a welcome destination between Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

Company director, and former owner of the city’s legendary Fat Sams venue, Angus Robb says, “I have been promoting shows in Dundee for over 30 years and see a gap in the market for a venue of this size. I am still an avid gig goer myself and the cost and inconvenience of travelling to shows in Glasgow or Edinburgh is off-putting for many. Whilst people will travel from Aberdeen or Dundee to events in the Central belt, Dundee has a great musical history and it’s our intention to add LiveHouse to the long list of great gig venues seen in Dundee over the years.”

Venue owner and operator TDI (Dundee Arena) Limited has a track record of delivering multi-million-pound ventures, and a spokesperson for the developer comments, “It’s great to start work on another iconic property in Dundee, the quirky exterior of the building has been a feature on the High Street for generations and we can’t wait to breathe new life into it.”

Speaking of the type of events and acts that visitors can expect, Robb adds, “The space is very flexible and can be adapted on an event-by-event basis, meaning we will attract a broad scope of events from live international bands to large corporate events or awards dinners. We’re also seeing a resurgence in the dance music scene across Scotland, fuelled by the meteoric rise of local DJ Hannah Laing, and the venue will be ideal for these types of events too.”

The iconic Margate Winter Gardens is on the path to reopening after being shuttered for three years

In southeast England, the iconic Margate Winter Gardens is on the path to reopening after being shuttered for three years.

Originally opened in 1911, the 3,000-capacity venue has hosted acts such as The Beatles, Bastille, The Libertines, McFly, Blur, The Specials, Razorlight, Jimmy Carr and Michael McIntyre.

Now, the local council has announced Westwood One Theatre as its proposed preferred partner for the refurbishment and reopening.

Under Westwood One Theatre’s vision, the venue would primarily operate as a theatre and live music venue, with the scope to accommodate conferences, corporate events and weddings.

Plans for the future of the Winter Gardens also include increasing the venue’s capacity and transforming it into a year-round location that offers services and events 365 days a year, the council added.

See more arenas and large-scale venues due to come online in 2025 here.

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