Less than two years after groundbreaking began, Southern California’s newest concert venue The Show is preparing for its grand opening this weekend. The project cost an estimated $76 million and is located at the Agua Caliente Casino, Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, CA.
Legendary performer Billy Joel will christen the stage with a sold-out performance tonight, February 12, with the sold-out weekend rounded out with concerts on February 13 by Matchbox Twenty and on February 14 by Martina McBride.
The 86,000 square foot venue has a capacity of approximately 2,000, with seating on four levels and only 125 feet between the stage and the rear-most seats in the theater. The space was also designed with the environment in mind, using recycled materials as well as energy-efficient lighting and heating components.
The result is a facility that Phil Cooper, the executive director of marketing for the Agua Caliente, described as “a market differentiator” during a recent interview with TicketNews. “The tribal lands have always been nurtured by the Agua Caliente, and they really focused on incorporating that aspect in The Show,” he noted. “There is nothing else like this in Southern California.”
Cooper acknowledged that the project was an expensive one, especially during these times of economic recession. However, he noted, the Agua Caliente has a long-term vision for the facility as a positive economic force in the region.
But in the short-term, Cooper stated that the band is very conscious about the state of the economy and will “be responsible with things like ticket prices” to ensure guests will have a luxurious but affordable experience.
Ticketing for all of The Show’s events will be handled by Star Tickets, a small national company that already has been on the Agua Caliente casino grounds for three years.
“Star Tickets has a large client base of casinos of our type. Because of that, they have an understanding of the challenges an establishment like ours faces,” Director of Entertainment Steve Macfadyen told TicketNews. He noted that the company, due to its size, is also able to offer a more customized customer service experience because “a lot of things happen on the fly with gaming.”
Though the venue is primarily being booked for music and comedy acts, the space is convertible for corporate or sporting events. Macfadyen explained that the venue is actively pursuing deals for ring events like boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), which could potentially be broadcast on premium cable channels such as HBO and Showtime.
Macfadyen explained that the potential variety of programming for the venue will help The Show appeal to regional guests, as well as visitors from the surrounding areas out to Los Angeles.
In the end, though, Macfadyen’s goal is for guests from all areas to view The Show as more than just a venue. “It will be a destination for entertainement,” he said.
The Show events schedule:
(Performers and dates are subject to change.)
| February 12 | Billy Joel |
| February 13 | Matchbox Twenty |
| February 14 | Martina McBride |
| February 20 | Chicago |
| March 6 | Tony Bennett |
| March 7 | Puddle of Mudd |
| March 21 | Eason Chan |
| March 27 | The Moody Blues |
| April 2 | Melissa Etheridge |
| April 3 | Trace Adkins |
| April 10 | Chelsea Handler |
| May 5 | Gabriel Iglesias |
| May 15 | Lisa Lampanelli |
| June 12 | Jay Leno |
| July 17 | Frank Caliendo |
