Live Nation’s “Minneapolis Fillmore” concert venue in Minnesota has finally begun to undergo construction, adding direct competition against promoter First Avenue.
Originally, plans to construct the 36,000-square-foot venue were announced in 2017, but according to Music In Minnesota, there hasn’t been updates for a while now. The venue, which will have a capacity of 2,000, is set to open in 2020 and will be built next to Target Field Station. It will model San Francisco’s rock club Fillmore West and feature Fillmore’s trademark ambiance with a chandelier in the center of the concert hall.
Additionally, a 150+ room Westin Hotel development will be a part of the project and is expected to be completed by fall 2019. A spokeswoman for the project told the Star Tribune that “windows and brick on the exterior are being installed, and interiors will be starting soon.”
The Minneapolis Fillmore is expected to host around 150 shows each year with an estimated yearly attendance of 150,000 to 200,000. It will compete with First Avenue’s main room in Minneapolis and Palace Theatre in St. Paul. Live Nation also took on the job of re-opening downtown Minneapolis’ 8,000-capacity Armory last year.
In the meantime, First Avenue is preparing to construct a new 7,000-10,000-person amphitheater as a part of North Minneapolis’ Upper Harbor Terminal riverfront development. First Avenue, which aquired Fine Line Music Cafe last year, is also expected to close a sale this week with the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.
