UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Gibson Amphitheatre, which opened as an outdoor theater in 1972 and has hosted musical acts, comedians, awards shows and presidents, will close its doors in September, officials announced today.
According to concert promoter Live Nation, concerts scheduled at the venue after September will be moved to other locations, so patrons should hold onto tickets.
A farewell concert was being planned for the venue, although the lineup has not been finalized, according to Live Nation.
“We, like music lovers across Los Angeles, will miss Gibson Amphitheatre,” Bret Gallagher, Live Nation president of North American concerts in Southern California/Las Vegas, said. “It is a tremendous venue with a uniquely intimate setting that has made it a very special place for fans and artists alike. The list of musicians that have played here is simply staggering.”
Although exact plans for the site were not revealed, Universal Studios is planning a $1.6 billion upgrade, with the addition of studio space, office buildings, retail space, a hotel and new theme park attractions, most notably The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Originally named Universal Amphitheatre, the nearly 6,200-seat venue has played host to the MTV Movie Awards, Teen Choice Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and NAACP Image Awards, as well as artists such as Bob Dylan, Madonna, Elton John, the Beach Boys, Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam and the Eagles.
Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford have all appeared at the theater, as did Pope John Paul II and the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, according to Live Nation.
