History Ottawa (Live Nation venue) [47 Rideau St] | U/C

[phil235]

Wow, definitely a best case scenario. I had hoped for this, but was doubtful they would pull it off. Getting an operator with this kind of financial backing is really impressive.

[7empest]

[Acajack]

Best news for downtown Ottawa in a long time.

[YOWetal]

Really have to give props to the NCC on this one. Quickly stepped in and bought a nice piece of property and adding a solid destination to the area. Of course this will provide competitition for Landsdowne but it should be a much smaller venue so largely not overlap acts.

[7empest]

I mean Live Nation (Ticketmaster) is a nightmare but I guess a necessary evil for the time being.

Also, can we get a nice marquee?

[J.OT13]

Hoping for an Aykroyd House of Blues, with marquee! Wondering if NCC jumped at the chance of getting Live Nation after the City/OSEG dropped the ball on Lansdowne, or if Live Nation walked away for a deal with the NCC. Timing would suggest the former.

Banner year for the NCC if they can get a deal signed with the Sens.

[J.OT13]

Also, can we retore the original brick under all that stucco?


https://urbsite.blogspot.com/2012/05/rideau-street-photo-archive.html

[bartlebooth]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Also, can we retore the original brick under all that stucco?


https://urbsite.blogspot.com/2012/05/rideau-street-photo-archive.html

Is that brick facade actually still in tact under the stucco?

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by bartlebooth

Is that brick facade actually still in tact under the stucco?

Probably. I don't think it could be restored but it could be reclad.

[J.OT13]

We can still see the forms of the brick work over the facade today.


https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ncc-buys-former-rideau-street-chapters-building-1.6726925

[zzptichka]

Awesome.
Wonder where will the main entrance be - Rideau or George?
Would be great to have a nice blade sign. And maybe even a marquee?

[huntclub]

So amazing finally a 2,000-2,500 venue in downtown. Hopefully with it being owned by live nation many major tours will now stop in Ottawa.

[rocketphish]

Live Nation to turn former downtown Chapters bookstore into music venue
The new mid-size venue is expected to open in late 2025, after renovations.

Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen
Published Jun 12, 2024 • Last updated 43 minutes ago • 3 minute read

A live-music venue to be developed by Live Nation Canada in the heart of downtown Ottawa has music fans cheering, although independent promoters are wondering if they will be able to book shows in the new space.

“More live music is always good,” said Geoff Cass, owner of the cozy RedBird Cafe on Bank Street, who’s also planning some bigger outdoor shows this summer. “But I don’t know if I’d be welcome to put on a show there or not.”

A Toronto-based Live Nation spokesperson, Tonisha Bath, said the company was not providing further details on the venue, or its booking policy, at this time, but local observers expect the new spot will fill a long-identified gap in Ottawa’s music scene, with a capacity greater than Bronson Centre’s 800-1000 and less than TD Place’s 5,000-7,000.

It’s also likely to be a concert hall, not a soft-seat theatre like the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall, which has nearly 2,000 seats. It will be the first Live Nation-owned venue in Ottawa. The mid-size venue is expected to open in late 2025, after renovations.

“It’s a big deal,” said Susan Odle, president of the board of directors of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition. “My gut feeling is it’s going to be a casual spot north of what Bronson Centre can accommodate.”

While it may not be available to independent promoters, Live Nation is in the best position to book major acts on a regular basis, she noted, generating a level of economic activity that will help revitalize Ottawa’s downtown core.

The new venue will occupy the commercial space at Rideau Street and Confederation Boulevard that formerly housed a Chapters bookstore. Empty since 2022, it’s located next to the Rideau Centre and the ByWard Market and easily accessible by public transit.

Live Nation Canada reached a deal to lease the space from the National Capital Commission, which purchased the property earlier this year for more than $20 million, as reported by CTV.

NCC specifications peg the size at 3,805 square metres of space above ground, with an additional 2,230 square metres of basement space.

“A venue of that nature is going to generate more foot traffic in the area, and jobs, both in the venue and nearby businesses,” Odle said. “The more people view things positively downtown, the less crime there’s going to be.”

The ByWard Market area has been plagued by safety concerns and crime in recent years, especially since the departure of the daytime workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, when businesses were closed and employees were sent home to work.

Odle says Ottawa still needs to work on the social challenges posed by poverty, homelessness and the opioid epidemic, but to have a high-traffic new business in the area is a good start.

“It’s all helpful to the local economy and will help bring the Market back to where it was 20 years ago, when it was fun and safe with tons of stuff going on,” she said.

In a statement, NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum underscored the notion that the venue would help revitalize the downtown core.

“This new state-of-the-art live music and entertainment venue in the heart of downtown will be a great destination for residents and visitors, contribute to increased economic activity for local restaurants and shops, and generate vibrancy and excitement for the National Capital Region as a whole,” Nussbaum said.

The statement also quoted Wayne Zronik, Live Nation Canada’s Toronto-based president of business operations, who described Ottawa as “one of the country’s most important markets for live music.” He predicted a vibrant future for the new space, which has yet to be named.

“This new establishment will undoubtedly become a cornerstone of the local entertainment scene and a beloved destination for years to come,” Zronik said.

The Chapters/Indigo bookstore occupied the space for 26 years until 2022, when it moved to a smaller space inside the Rideau Centre.

[email protected]

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/live-nati...town-chapters-bookstore-into-music-venue

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Awesome.
Wonder where will the main entrance be - Rideau or George?
Would be great to have a nice blade sign. And maybe even a marquee?

My money's on George St. There's a vastly larger frontage there to accommodate things like a marquee, a drop-off/pickup area, and line-ups of patrons waiting to get inside.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Awesome.
Wonder where will the main entrance be - Rideau or George?
Would be great to have a nice blade sign. And maybe even a marquee?

sadly, traditional glitzy marquee signs overhanging the sidewalk are now illegal. I guess a risk of them falling onto pedestrians.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

My money's on George St. There's a vastly larger frontage there to accommodate things like a marquee, a drop-off/pickup area, and line-ups of patrons waiting to get inside.

Given the proximity of the O-train on the Rideau side, I would expect both entrances to be retained, especially if the building were configured for more than one use (will a single venue need all three (or 2.5) floors?

[Djeffery]

I wonder if it will be something I'm familiar with here in London called the London Music Hall. Basically they took out much of the second floor, left in the sides for balconies, so people stand on the floor and the sides and at the back of the hall (which is actually the front of the building), they have a graded seating area. Capacity is about 1800 with standing room, obviously less if the act wants chairs put in on the main level, which hardly ever happens. Easily the busiest music venue in London. Either way, a new music venue for that area will be a success I'm sure, especially with the student population.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Awesome.
Wonder where will the main entrance be - Rideau or George?
Would be great to have a nice blade sign. And maybe even a marquee?

My guess is that they'd do a new entrance on George closer to the HBC. I'm hoping there's a pass-through to Rideau. With 45 Rideau taking up the corner I imagine it's difficult for that part of the property that had the Starbucks to be part of the performance space anyway.

[OTSkyline]

Weird as I was thinking the opposite. Looking at the general layout of the building, I was expecting a main entrance on Rideau Street (with ticket booths, coat check, washrooms, and stairs) and the main rectangle/space to be in the back.

One of the articles mentioned that the deal included some parking spots on George St reserved for Live Nation which would most likely be used to loading/unloading, staff/equipment which is why I would think George St would become the back of the house.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Weird as I was thinking the opposite. Looking at the general layout of the building, I was expecting a main entrance on Rideau Street (with ticket booths, coat check, washrooms, and stairs) and the main rectangle/space to be in the back.

One of the articles mentioned that the deal included some parking spots on George St reserved for Live Nation which would most likely be used to loading/unloading, staff/equipment which is why I would think George St would become the back of the house.

I was definitely thinking that the Rideau facade should function as the visual main entrance, but they would need an entrance on George as well, as it's difficult to do drop-offs on Rideau (2-lane no stopping and bike tracks).

It would be really cool if they did giant glass bay doors on George that allow passersby to catch a glimpse of events happening on the inside, similar to the former MuchMusic studio in Toronto. They could open it up during free events and it would facilitate moving stage equipment and sets.