MGM music hall at Fenway opens

soxhop411

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Dec 4, 2009
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from the Globe

Every athlete who suits up for the Red Sox knows the value of playing at Fenway Park. The intimacy of the stadium creates an energy not often matched at other ballparks.
With their latest addition to the 110-year-old stadium, the team behind Fenway Sports Group — led by John Henry, who also owns the Globe — are hoping to re-create a similar vibe for live music at the MGM Music Hall. Beginning with a benefit show headlined by Godsmack on Aug. 27, followed by two nights apiece for James Taylor (Aug. 29-30) and Chris Stapleton (Aug 31-Sept. 1), the venue is set to open its doors at the foot of Lansdowne Street.
Just as the Red Sox feed off the energy of the crowd, “our hope is that the performers will feel the same,” said FSG real estate managing director Jonathan Gilula during a sneak peek at the new venue on Thursday, ahead of Monday’s ribbon-cutting.
Located behind the right-field bleachers, the 5,000-seat auditorium occupies the former “Triangle Lot,” which for years was fenced off for mobile-production trucks.

The odd shape of the lot inspired some creative thinking. As it happens, the resulting project could turn out to be a groundbreaker in terms of concert venue design.

“Everybody loves the shape of Fenway, which came from the surrounding streets,” said Chuck Izzo of Somerville’s DAIQ Architects, who has done design work for several other ballparks, including Dodger Stadium and Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. In the same way, he said, the MGM Music Hall is “a snug fit. We used every space we possibly could.”

The angled seating created a geometric space that should enhance acoustics. No seat is farther than 110 feet from the center of the stage. John Ahrens, a senior vice president of design and construction for Live Nation, said he intends to duplicate the design at venues in other cities wherever possible.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/20/arts/mgm-music-hall-bostons-newest-concert-venue-takes-field/
More at the link
 

PC Drunken Friar

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Just realized I have tickets to a show here for September 13. Local band Dalton and the Sheriffs. I usually just buy their tickets when they play and had nobody they would be playing there. Check them out
 

bankshot1

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Is it crazy or too cynical to believe that the MGM Music Hall at Fenway may eventually morph into the MGM/Fenway Sports Group sports book in the not too distant future?
 

CarolinaBeerGuy

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bankshot1

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I know the lines are continually blurring between pro sports and gambling, but would MLB allow an ownership group to also own a sports book?
I assume at some point in the not too distant future Fenway Park will have the ability to let fans prop bet balls/strikes from their seats and Henry and partners will collect the vig.
 

Omar's Wacky Neighbor

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Leaving in a bit to the studio :)
Is it crazy or too cynical to believe that the MGM Music Hall at Fenway may eventually morph into the MGM/Fenway Sports Group sports book in the not too distant future?
My first thought was that the Music Hall is just a place holder for a future venture/venue. Not necessarily for gaming or a sports book, but for something bigger.
 

cornwalls@6

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Apr 23, 2010
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Think I’m going to see Gaslight Anthem there in October. Curious to check it out. As an aside, wonder what impact it has on House of Blues? Seems like they’ll be competing for at least some bands/artists.
 

Fishercat

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May 18, 2007
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I am more skeptical than others on the conversion of MGM Music Hall to something else. The space by my understanding is kind of unique and required some creative design work - it's using its height very creatively which lends itself to an interesting looking theatre experience but outside of putting in floors and making it multi-level smaller use space I'm not sure what else you do with it. I could see it as a test case for using some of Fenway's space for other usages but not necessarily this space.
very different size profiles and bands. I think MGM was quoting a 5k capacity and HoB is closer to half that, and even if those numbers are closer that's just different show bookings. Some of the shows MGM has booked now (Bruno Mars, Arcade Fire, etc.) may be more "new venue hype" than real size but it's a good complement to HoB.

The bigger direct concern for Fenway and Sox fans is probably if/when there are concerts booked the same day as a gam. We'll have our first real test on September 1st with the Green Line down, a Sox game (BC Night and a Funko Pop night) at Fenway, and Chris Stapleton at the MGM Music Hall which will be sold out. I am assuming these are two separate entities but adding a blob of 5k people most of whom have the same departure time could cause a real glob of people coming in and out to the area on days where events are shared (as well as the pre-gaming elements). Given the quality of this Sox team and it being a weekday I'm not sure how bad it'll be but these shows will absolutely inject 4-5k people into the area fairly frequently, and if you add an HoB show that can be more.

The venue itself looks cool and has a good outer profile (we walked past it after Bill Burr), I won tickets to Arcade Fire/Beck so I'll test it out in November. It will have some stiff competition with Roadrunner given that venue is great and it's an easier drive (relatively speaking)