Live Nation has announced the launch of South Africa’s largest dedicated live entertainment space, The Dome, which is set to open in Johannesburg in January 2025.

The company is partnering with Stadium Management South Africa and Gearhouse South Africa on the 10,500-cap state-of-the-art venue in the suburb of Nasrec.

Live Nation’s first permanent venue in Africa, The Dome is adjacent to the FNB Stadium and will serve as a “hub for local and pan-African talent”. It will highlight genres such as Afrobeats, Amapiano, dance, pop, hip-hop, and R&B – with a solo headline show by Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems confirmed for 20 March next year.

“The Dome fills a critical gap in South Africa’s live entertainment scene, creating a unique space that will support pan-African talent,” says Justin Van Wyk, CEO at Live Nation South Africa, which will promote and produce the venue’s events. “The venue will provide new opportunities to connect emerging and established artists with a new demographic of South African fans.”

The Dome can be set up in various configurations including end stage, side stage and centre stage, and has doors that can be opened on both sides – allowing a free flow of people between the interior and exterior spaces and offering a range of viewing points.

The multi-purpose venue can also be used for conferences, exhibitions, banquets and product launches.

“We’re excited about the opportunities this venue will create”

Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA), which will oversee the management of the facility, already looks after South African venues such as FNB Stadium, Rand Stadium, Orlando Stadium and Dobsonville Stadium on behalf of the City of Johannesburg.

“This collaboration with Live Nation and Gearhouse South Africa reflects our shared vision to not only host world-class events but also empower local talent, boost economic growth, and create a vibrant cultural hub in Johannesburg and the Gauteng Province,” says Bertie Grobbelaar, CEO at Stadium Management South Africa.

“We are proud to contribute to a venue that will inspire and connect audiences, artists, and communities across Africa and beyond.”

Ofer Lapid and Nasser Abbas, joint CEOs at Gearhouse South Africa, add: “The collaboration is fuelled by our shared vision, passion, and a commitment to service excellence, and we’re excited about the opportunities this venue will create.”

Live Nation expanded into South Africa in 2016 by acquiring a controlling interest in the country’s largest concert promoter, Big Concerts. Ticketmaster then launched in South Africa in 2022, opening a headquarters in Cape Town, and snapped up ticketing platform Quicket this summer.

The Dome is LN’s second major venue project in Africa to be announced this year. In February, it unveiled plans to open a new 12,000-cap arena in Lagos, Nigeria, in late 2025 with partners including Oak View Group.

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South Africa’s largest promoter Big Concerts has spoken of its relief after the government finally dropped the country’s remaining coronavirus measures.

Restrictions had included mandatory mask-wearing in indoor public spaces, border checks for Covid-19 and – most pertinently for the live music business – capacity limits of 1,000 people indoors and 2,000 people outdoors.

Live Nation-owned Big Concerts has upcoming dates scheduled with the likes of OneRepublic, David Gray and Foreigner, as well as two huge shows with Justin Bieber at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium (28 September) and FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (1 October).

“The road to economic recovery starts today”

“It was nerve-wracking because our timing was impeccable,” says Big Concerts CEO Justin van Wyk, reports Eyewitness News. “We had just announced Justin Bieber and two weeks later, our scientists announced Omicron. We are ecstatic with this news, it is going to be a great summer. The road to economic recovery starts today.”

According to Reuters, the lifting of measures followed a decline in the number of Covid infections and deaths.

Big Concerts has been involved in nearly every major international live event promoted in South Africa since the 1990s, including the 1992 concert by Paul Simon which marked the end of a 10-year international ban on foreign artists during the Apartheid era.

Live Nation acquired a controlling interest in the Cape Town-based promoter in 2016. The two companies have been working together since mid-2009, when Big Concerts became exclusive promotion partner for all LN tours in South Africa.

Ticketmaster expanded to South Africa earlier this year, opening a new headquarters in Cape Town.

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