Studio 52 is a community artist space located in the heart of Allston, and is proud to support the Boston music scene and local artist community.
A new 5,000-capacity music venue could soon be coming to Lansdowne Street — situated pretty much just outside the bleachers of Fenway Park.
Fenway Sports Group detailed plans Friday afternoon for what’s being called the Fenway Theater, a new “state-of-the-art performing arts center” located at the corner of Lansdowne and Ipswich Streets. Fenway Sports Group is the parent company of the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, Fenway Sports Management, and NESN; and in this scenario, its Fenway Sports Management would partner with Crossroads Presents to operate as Fenway Music Company.
Currently, the eyed location, across Lansdowne Street from Loretta’s Last Call, Bill’s Bar, and other venues, houses a Red Sox parking lot.
Crossroads Presents, which is affiliated with Live Nation and managed by longtime concert promoter and Live Nation New England President Don Law, books and oversees Boston venues such as the Paradise Rock Club, Orpheum Theatre, Brighton Music Hall, and the nearby House of Blues. This new Fenway Music Company “will book, manage, and operate” the Fenway Theater as well as the House of Blues, according to a release.
To compare, this new venue, at a 5,000-person capacity limit, would hold roughly double the concertgoers as the House of Blues (approximately 2,500-capacity) and Orpheum (2,700-capacity). The Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, which is also operated by Crossroads, seats 5,200 people. There is no word if the proposed Fenway Theater would be seated, general admission, or a mix of both, similar to the House of Blues, which features an open floor and balcony seating.
“The success of Fenway Park as a year-round venue has paved the way for this project, which will ensure the Lansdowne Street area remains a true entertainment district in Boston,” says Fenway Sports Group Chairman Tom Werner in a statement. “To have an intimate, indoor performing arts space for smaller-scale events will allow for a wider array of uses throughout the year. We are fortunate to be working with one of the most talented executives in the music and entertainment industry through our collaboration with Don Law and Live Nation. We are grateful for his passion and partnership.”
According to the same release, Fenway Music Company is currently in dialog with the city of Boston, as well as the surrounding community, and the process has begun for “formal design plans and development timelines.” Check out the early design plan below.
“We look forward to working with Mayor Walsh, the Boston Planning & Development Agency, other city agencies, and our neighbors on the design concepts and operational plans as we embark on the formal approval process for this exciting project,” adds Werner.
Says Law: “We look forward to making the Fenway Theater an essential stop for artists planning tours in the Boston area.”
