YouTube Theater, a new 6,000-seat performance venue which forms part of the Hollywood Park development in Inglewood, California, yesterday (Monday) held its ribbon-cutting ceremony ahead of its opening series of events.
The ceremony was attended by Hollywood Park developer and Los Angeles Rams owner and chairman Stan Kroenke. Hollywood Park is anchored by SoFi Stadium, which opened last year and serves as the home of the Rams and fellow NFL team the Los Angeles Chargers.
The ceremony was also attended by YouTube’s chief business officer Robert Kyncl and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr, with YouTube creator Mai Pham serving as the master of ceremonies. YouTube acquired naming rights to the venue in a multi-year agreement that marked a first-of-its-kind partnership for the video-sharing platform.
Earlier in June, Live Nation was appointed as the promoter of the venue and the company has lined up a number of acts for its first year, including former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, Devo and Black Pumas.
Live Nation Concerts’ chief strategy and development officer Jordan Zachary attended yesterday’s opening ceremony, along with Rich Best, president of Los Angeles for Live Nation Concerts.
The venue’s initial slate of events spans September, October and November and will culminate in a grand opening in the winter, when YouTube Theater and Live Nation announce the arena’s first artist residency with “one of today’s most popular music groups”. The group will be announced later in the year.
Kroenke said: “YouTube Theater is in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world and inspired by creativity and technology. We are proud to partner with YouTube at this unique venue. YouTube Theater’s opening series of special and diverse concerts and events is not only for the Inglewood and Los Angeles communities it calls home but also representative of them.
“On this special occasion, we want to express our deepest appreciation to the partners, colleagues and employees that helped bring YouTube Theater to life. We cannot wait to welcome you.”
The venue will span 227,000 square feet, with the furthest seat in the arena to be only 164 feet from the stage as part of plans to create an intimate environment for fans and artists. YouTube Theater will also have the ability to stream live events.
The arena will feature six premium boxes, a 1,200-square-foot back-of-house hospitality space and a 3,500-square-foot private club with 140 premium seats. YouTube Theater’s sound system will be provided by L-Acoustics.
The exterior of the building will feature a large-scale immersive digital signage display of the YouTube logo, which delivers a motion-based interactive experience for guests. The icon can be programmed with an infinite number of interactive modes and will also play highlights of YouTube’s creator content.
The interior of the venue will include an interactive digital wall that will be used to celebrate YouTube’s creators and artists by showcasing them in a gallery-like setting.
Hollywood Park also includes the American Airlines Plaza, as well as a 500,000-square-foot retail district, more than 300 residences and the NFL Building, which will all open to the public in or before spring 2022.
Images: Timothy Norris/Jeff Lewis/YouTube Theater
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