Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment Partners with The Bowery Presents to Acquire Operating Rights to New York's Iconic Webster Hall
BROOKLYN SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS WITH
THE BOWERY PRESENTS TO ACQUIRE OPERATING RIGHTS TO NEW YORK’S ICONIC WEBSTER HALL
BROOKLYN/LOS ANGELES (April 3, 2017) – Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) is partnering with The Bowery Presents, AEG Presents’ regional partner, to acquire the operating rights and assets to Webster Hall, the legendary music and entertainment venue located in Manhattan’s East Village. The parties will assume the long-term lease to the building, which will continue to be owned by current owner, Unity Gallega.
Webster Hall, which has operated as a venue since 1886, includes the Grand Ballroom, The Studio and The Marlin Room live entertainment spaces. The officially designated New York City Landmark has served an integral role in the development of many artists’ careers and was named 2016 Nightclub of the Year at Pollstar Magazine’s annual awards. The magazine currently ranks Webster Hall as the No. 2 club venue worldwide for ticket sales.
“We are excited to build on the iconic history of Webster Hall,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “Webster Hall provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to connect with artists early in their careers and expands BSE’s venue footprint into Manhattan. We appreciate all that the Ballinger family has done to make Webster Hall an industry leading venue and we are looking forward to working with them, The Bowery Presents and AEG Presents to make it an even greater destination for live music.”
“Partnering with The Bowery Presents and Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment to program and operate this iconic live facility will continue to enhance Webster Hall’s worldwide reputation as one of the industry’s most important venues,” said Jay Marciano, Chairman and CEO, AEG Presents.
Webster Hall has undergone several waves of transformation throughout the past century. In the 1920’s, Webster Hall notoriously held masquerade balls and was nicknamed the “Devil’s Playhouse.” RCA Records purchased Webster Hall in 1954 and renovated the venue to include a state-of-the-art acoustically treated ballroom. Notable artists who recorded in Webster Hall’s studio during this time included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan (his recording debut), Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, and Julie Andrews.
Beginning in the 1980’s, Webster Hall reemerged as a leading rock venue in the City, hosting artists such as Eric Clapton with Keith Richards, U2 (for the band’s first-ever US show), Tina Turner, The Beastie Boys, The Pretenders, Prince, Sting, Metallica, Aerosmith, KISS, B.B. King and Guns N’ Roses. The Ballinger family began running the venue in 1989.
ABOUT THE BOWERY PRESENTS
The Bowery Presents, AEG Presents’ regional partner, is a leading New York City-based concert promoter, whose mission is to bring the best artists to the New York City metropolitan area and venues spanning from Maine to the Gulf Coast, while providing the best concert experience for both fans and artists. Pollstar recently ranked The Bowery Presents in the top ten promoters in North America (2015). Since its inception, The Bowery Presents has been a purveyor of true artist development and consistently strives to work with artists like My Morning Jacket, Mumford & Sons, Sam Smith, and LCD Soundsystem to grow from performing in intimate clubs to performing in sold-out arenas. As a trusted industry tastemaker, The Bowery Presents produces dynamic entertainment experiences at dozens of venues nationally, presenting more than 2,500 shows per year. For more information, please visit www.bowerypresents.com
ABOUT AEG Presents
AEG Presents is one of the world’s largest live music companies. The company is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global and regional concert tours, music events and world-renowned festivals. AEG Presents operates in North America, Europe and Asia through 16 regional offices that support its tours which include such artists as Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney; produces or supports over 40 music festivals, including the iconic Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival; and owns, manages or books more than 70 clubs and theaters. The company presents more than 10,000 shows annually worldwide and conducts business under such globally renowned brands as AEG Presents, Concerts West, Goldenvoice, Messina Touring Group, Marshall Arts LTD, Madison House Presents and The Bowery Presents. For more information, visit www.aegpresents.com.
ABOUT BROOKLYN SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) develops and operates state-of-the-art venues and manages premier sports franchises, delivering dynamic content and experiences for audiences. BSE oversees programming, marketing, sales, and operations for Barclays Center and NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Presented By New York Community Bank, and manages and controls the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and its Development League team, the Long Island Nets, as well as the business operations of the NHL's New York Islanders.
Barclays Center, which opened on September 28, 2012, offers 17,732 seats for basketball, 15,795 for hockey, and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, and has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, four clubs, and 40/40 CLUB & Restaurant by Tanduay.
NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, is scheduled to reopen April 5, 2017 after extensive renovation, will offer 13,000 seats for hockey, 13,500 for basketball, and 14,500 for standard concert configurations, with the ability to flex up. The bowl will have a theater seating option for 4,000 guests. With a focus on emerging businesses, BSE identifies and creates alliances, strategic partners and other business opportunities to ensure the success of its assets.
For additional information, please visit Brooklynse.com.
AEG Presents Contact:
MICHAEL ROTH
Vice President, AEG
213.742.7155
mroth@aegworldwide.com