Boston’s new MGM Music Hall at Fenway formally opened yesterday (Monday) with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The performing arts centre is located immediately behind Fenway Park, home of Major League Baseball (MLB)’s Boston Red Sox.
The 91,500 sq ft venue can accommodate up to 5,000 guests in an intimate setting with versatile seating options, including removable seats on the floor of the main hall. The hall has been developed by Fenway Sports Group Real Estate (FSGRE) with design expertise from DAIQ Architects and Live Nation.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said: “The completion of MGM Music Hall will be a significant contribution to Boston’s eccentric music and arts culture. I’m excited to see the opportunities and the experiences that this new venue will bring to our city.”
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) Tom Werner added: “The same thoughtful consideration that has been poured into Fenway Park for over two decades has now transformed an underutilised, triangular parking lot into a world-class venue, and we are grateful to the City of Boston and the Boston Planning and Development Agency for their support in the planning and development to make this venue a reality.
“We have witnessed firsthand the power a venue can have on people and communities and believe the MGM Music Hall at Fenway’s most important role will be the one it plays within our neighbourhood and city.
“Along with our partners at Live Nation, we seek to create a place where up-and-coming bands, local artists, and students of music are treated with the same care and consequence we have for elite performers. We are proud and excited to add the MGM Music Hall at Fenway to Boston’s rich music and cultural scene.”
The exterior of the new MGM Music Hall at Fenway has been designed to reflect its connection with Fenway Park and the neighbourhood. The venue also has environmentally friendly elements like solar panels, which can generate over 160,000 kw of energy per year. It is also a LEED Gold certified venue under the USGBC’S LEED v4 rating system.
MGM Music Hall is set to welcome opening performances from the likes of Chris Stapleton, Bruno Mars and Lil Nas X.
Don Law, chairman of Live Nation New England, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park and the broader Fenway Sports Group family to continue our longstanding tradition of bringing world-class entertainment to Lansdowne Street.
“Not only are we poised to bring some of the biggest names in entertainment to the neighbourhood like Bruno Mars, James Taylor & His All Star Band and Chris Stapleton, we are grateful and honoured that the MGM Music Hall at Fenway will serve as a beacon of continuing inspiration for the vibrant Boston arts community for years to come.”
Image: Anthony DELANOIX on Unsplash