12 June 2009 O2 Academy Birmingham to open in September

12 June 2009

O2 Academy Birmingham to open in September

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Academy Music Group (AMG) is currently undertaking a £5m refurbishment programme of the former ‘Dome’ nightclub on Bristol Street, Birmingham, for development of its new venue, O2 Academy Birmingham. AMG, whose shareholders include Live Nation, SJM Concerts and Metropolis Music, acquired the site just over 12 months ago.

The 45,000sq foot purpose-built 1970’s nightspot will open in September 2009. A multi-room operation, O2 Academy Birmingham will have an overall building capacity of 3,859. The three venues can operate independently as well as simultaneously and will feature state-of-the-art, in-house production. The main auditorium has a capacity of 3,009 and artists already confirmed to play this autumn include Bloc Party, The Maccabees and Dizzee Rascal.

Commenting on progress to date, AMG operations director, Richard Maides, said: “O2 Academy Birmingham is our most ambitious project to date, creating three unique spaces, each very different, but all dynamic, creative and most importantly, to the highest specification. We always say we will ‘up the bar’ with every venue we open and this time I can honestly say this is no exception.”

Academy Music Group is committed to supporting new talent and has two additional smaller rooms, O2 Academy 2 Birmingham (600) and O2 Academy 3 Birmingham (250), for emerging artists to play in professionally equipped environments. “Having varying capacities means we are perfectly positioned to support new acts on their first live dates. In 2008, MGMT played all three of our venues within just nine months. It’s always great to see bands return, progressing through their careers and playing to a larger audience each time,” added Andy MacDonald, general manager, O2 Academy Birmingham.

“Birmingham was the first city I chose outside of London eight years ago to expand the Academy brand,” concluded John Northcote. “In that time, the existing site in Dale End has welcomed the likes of Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy and some 4,000 plus gigs with over three million music fans through the doors.”

Mark Stevenson, head of sponsorship at O2 said: “The new O2 Academy Birmingham further demonstrates O2 and AMG’s commitment to music in Birmingham and O2 customers will be amongst the first to experience this exciting new venue through our Priority Ticket programme.”

Further details will be announced in due course.

From: Night Online

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