Gibson Amp. Closing

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

It's wiped out in the Universal Expansion.   

 

Verizon Wireless closing too... sucks.  

 

I've seen a ton of shows at both of these venues.

[RallyMo]

Aren't they going to open up a new one eventually at Universal, though?

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Don't think so.

 

 

The venue's lease expires in September, and it will be torn down to make room for a thorough revamp and expansion of Universal Studios, with the new "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" ride expected to take its place in the complex.

 

Live Nation said it plans to relocate most shows scheduled for after September there, and will offer  refunds for any shows canceled due to the change.

Venues such as the 7,000-capacity Nokia Theatre and the 6,000-set Greek will likely pick up the slack left from the closing of the 6,000-capacity Gibson. Even if nobody could really call the Gibson a neighborhood venue, or a visually iconic part of L.A. music lore, its artist alumni roster is considerable,  and it was a staple performance space for many essential genres in L.A. music.

[Glen]

I liked the GIbson.  Great sound no matter where you sat and good sight lines. 

 

Won't miss Verizon much when it's gone.  Getting into that place was a nightmare. 

[Tank]

the last time i was there it was still called the universal amphitheater. saw rodney dangerfield there once, and then the redneck comedy tour with foxworthy, larry the cable guy, bill engvall, and ron white. good place for a show.

[Tank]

It's wiped out in the Universal Expansion.   

 

Verizon Wireless closing too... sucks.  

 

I've seen a ton of shows at both of these venues.

 

if your 73 children all started and signed a petition, they might listen to you about keeping it open.

[Lhalo]

Sweet. The Gibson is closing for a Harry Potter ride and Verizon Amphitheater is closing for more cookie-cutter beige houses.

 

It's cool though, the Great Park will have a new venue in about 85 years.

[RallyMo]

I didn't see too many shows there. I caught a couple of Acoustic Xmas' and some other miscellaneous shows there. I assume Acoustic Chrstmas will end up at Nokia.

 

I haven't been on it but that Harry Potter ride is mighty impressive. It looks like they want Universal to be a legit, day long theme park experience.

[Sully151]

I saw the Conan OBrian tour at Gibson. It seemed like a great and underutilized venue.

I can't tell you how many I have seen at Verizon. The first was Oingo Boing and the last was Sociol D and Avett Brothers.

Even though parking was pretty bad, it will suck to not have an outdoor concert venue in OC. I would rather deal with parking in Irvine than driving to L.A. In traffic and dealing with stack parking at the Greek.

[halobob]

They have talked about shutting down the Irvine venue for years...are there actually plans set or is it still speculation?

[Ray McKigney]

Damn. I've seen a ton of acts at Irvine Meadows. Iron Maiden (5 times), Metallica, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, just to name a few. I've always loved summer shows there. Close to home and you don't have to deal with the crappy drive to LA. Bummer.

[halobob]

From what I have read Live Nation has a land lease for Verizon in Irvine until 2017 so we should have a few more years of concerts there.

[Ray McKigney]

From what I have read Live Nation has a land lease for Verizon in Irvine until 2017 so we should have a few more years of concerts there.

 

That's good. It's the only big outdoor place in OC that's worthy of big acts. Pacific Amphitheater is ok, but it's never loud enough there.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

if your 73 children all started and signed a petition, they might listen to you about keeping it open.

 

Thanks YK

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

From what I have read Live Nation has a land lease for Verizon in Irvine until 2017 so we should have a few more years of concerts there.

 

Yeah.. it's planned, and not nearly as easily accessible as where Verizon is.   I live 5 mins from there.   And what do we do for four years while we wait?   I don't want to go to Glen Helen out in Devore.  It's a pit.     I loved Meadows.

[halobob]

Yeah, I live about 10-15 min from there, great place to see a concert.  I'm gonna be pissed when they tear it down.  I usually go to at least 3 shows a summer there.  Definitely beats going all the way up to LA and dealing with traffic.

[Aaronkv]

Irvine Company sucks, same thing happened to Wild Rivers, lease was up, not offered to re-new and apartments put in its place. I like Verizon a lot, I've never had issues getting in or out at sold out shows. I go to Weenie Roast every year.

[Glen]

Last year (or was it the year before?) I was going with my GF and brother - not the same person, before somebody asks - to see the Journey/Foriegner/Night Ranger show.  I was stoked to see Night Ranger, this was my first time for them and I'd seen the other bands multiple times.  I ended up wating almost an hour to get in from 2 miles away on the freeway.  Got there halfway through Foreigner's set.  Still haven't seen Night Ranger.  My life is incomplete.

[CaliAngel]

I have never seen a show at the Gibson, never a show going on there that I wanna see. 

 

I have never seen Harry Potter. 

 

But the new Harry Potter land they're putting in place of the Gibson is supposed to be pretty impressive. 

[xboom28x]

Once Nokia theater opened, it was pretty much the demise of Gibson.

 

I hope they put another outdoor facility in OC for big shows. It's a tough trek to Cricket Wireless (Chula Vista) and San Manuel Amphitheater (Devore)