Christopher BarrettBirmingham is to see a new live entertainment venue opened by Aston Villa Football Club (AVFC) and Oak View Group (OVG) this year.
Newly developed live entertainment venue The Warehouse (cap. 3,500) is scheduled to open next to the Villa Park stadium in December.
OVG will oversee programming, provide operational support and help secure a naming rights partner for the venue, which is currently being referred to as The Warehouse. OVG said the venue is being designed for music and other live events including comedy shows and sporting events such as boxing. A former club training warehouse, The Warehouse is understood to be the first mid-sized music and live entertainment venue created by a Premier League football club and located next to its main ground.
AVFC president of business operations Chris Heck said, “The Warehouse marks another exciting chapter in Aston Villa’s proud history. This new venue will provide Birmingham with a first-class space for live entertainment and significantly enhance the matchday experience for our fans. We’re thrilled to be working with Oak View Group, whose credentials in building and managing world-class venues are second to none.”
OVG executive vice president venue management Rebecca Kane Burton (pictured) said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with such an historic and forward-thinking football club. Aston Villa shares our vision for what a modern entertainment destination should be – fan-first, community-oriented, and commercially ambitious. The Warehouse will be a jewel in Birmingham’s cultural crown, and a benchmark for future collaborations between sport and live entertainment.”