A few weeks ago word came down that Brooklyn DIY show and recording space Shea Stadium was closing due to pressures from city officials. This week, a Kickstarter has been launched to rehabilitate its building, bring the all-ages space up to code, and create a more sustainable Shea Stadium so it can re-open and continue to service the music community.
After a few hours of operation, “Bring Back Shea Stadium” has already pulled in nearly $14,000. It has 29 days left (April 21) to hit its $50,000 goal, and the campaign has an “all or nothing” stipulation.
“Shea is one of the last institutions of an entire generation of DIY music venues in New York City,” states the intro message on Kickstarter. “Now, it’s existence is under threat from a variety of governmental & political factors. We want to make Shea a completely legal, 100% permitted venue to protect its future. If you believe in the value of DIY music spaces in NYC, join us to make this a reality.”
Among the needs of the space are $20,000 for “renovations to pass inspection by the Dept of Buildings, FDNY & Dept of Health,” $13,00 for “architect fees for drafting plans & filing permits,” and roughly $22,000 for legal fees, fire safety training, and various permits.
Backer perks range from a curated playlist from Shea ($1) to the organizers throwing a house party for a donor in the Tri-State Area ($2,500). The Kickstarter extensively breaks down Shea’s needs and how every dollar will be put to use. Hit the link above or watch the video embed below for more info.