Madison Square Garden Company Creating An Entertainment Icon To Rival Staples Center
When I received a press release announcing that the Madison Square Garden Company is spending $100 million to revamp the once-fabulous Forum – where the LA Lakers created “Showtime” – as a concert venue, I did a double take.
Could that be right!? One hundred million dollars!?
Sure enough. And then it the release included another attention-grabbing statement. The opening concert is with the Eagles!
“The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG), which acquired the Forum in Inglewood, California in June of 2012, today announced its plans for the iconic venue, including its commitment to invest $100 million, details of its ongoing revitalization, its highly-anticipated reopening in January 2014 andthe company’s naming of Chase as Presenting Partner.
“Upon completion of the extensive revitalization, the Forum will reopen on January 15 with a historic performance by the legendary Eagles.”
All this is being done to not just bring a new brand of Showtime to Los Angeles, but to provide a concert venue to rival that of the Staples Center (the two are about 20 minutes apart. Or, in rush hour, closer to an hour). It will feature “flexible seating” ranging from 8,000 to 17,000, meaning it can host intimate acts to big-name bands. Like the Eagles.
The iconic Roman-style columns are being panted from blue to what MSG calls “California sunset red” and there will be food and beverages at an outdoor terrace. You can also expect the best acoustics, literally, that money can buy.
The last time I was in the Forum, it was last spring for a friends and family private concert by Van Halen and while the show was great, the venue itself was obviously in need of an upgrade.
It’s all a boon to Los Angeles concert goers, and it will be interesting to see how AEG and Staples Center reacts to this high-level competition.
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