Major concerts and festivals are coming back strong after being stopped in their tracks by the pandemic for over a year, and although concerns remain about the delta variant and rising cases around the world, live entertainment companies have shown that they are bullish on the return to in-person.
At a time when many companies are investing in live streaming technology, Live Nation Canada is also investing in physical venues as it prepares for the future return to normalcy. The live entertainment giant recently announced that its Budweiser Stage venue in Ontario, Canada will be undergoing a major overhaul over the next nine years and will be redeveloped into a year-round live performance venue with an outdoor capacity of 20,000 and an indoor capacity of 9,000.
Currently, the venue is open from May to October and seats about 16,000. The redesign will prioritize sustainability and will implement strategies aimed at improving energy savings, water efficiency, and more. The new venue is expected to host up to 1 million visitors and support over 900 jobs during events.
“The redevelopment of the amphitheatre into a year-round venue means that fans will have increased opportunities to enjoy the live experience in our city,” Riley O’Connor, Chairman of Live Nation Canada, said in a statement. “We’ve been making memories at Budweiser Stage for 25 years now, and we look forward to bringing even more music to Toronto.”
“Live Nation has made the Ontario Place amphitheatre a landmark entertainment destination for more than 25 years,” added Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “Their plan to redevelop the amphitheatre into a modern, sustainable, year-round indoor-outdoor live music and performance venue will attract more high-profile musical acts and incredible, world-class events than ever before. It will be a great addition to the redeveloped Ontario Place, and its role in Ontario’s post-pandemic recovery.”