It’s full steam ahead for the temporary and permanent amphitheaters at the Great Park in Irvine.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Great Park Board and City Council approved a three-year, $6.6 million contract for Irvine-based PSQ Productions, Inc., to operate the temporary venue and a nearly $15 million architectural and engineering contract for Populous, Inc. to provide services for a permanent amphitheater, including civil engineering, structural, audio/visual, acoustic and environmental noise control.
After the abrupt closure of FivePoint Amphitheatre left the city in a lurch for a live music venue, city leaders have worked toward building a temporary venue that would keep live music in Irvine until the completion of the new amphitheater.
Dubbed Great Park Live, the 5,000-seat temporary venue will be set up at the Great Park Sports Complex, primarily as a home for Pacific Symphony, in time for the 2024 summer season and will remain throughout the end of the 2026 season or until Irvine completes construction of its new amphitheater, which is slated to open in time for the 2027 summer concert season.
The city and PSQ Productions would share in ancillary revenues, including food, beverage and merchandise, while a 10% management fee on fixed costs would go to PSQ, said assistant city manager Pete Carmichael.
To help defray the high fixed cost, Carmichael said, the city also plans to make the temporary amphitheater available for cultural and community events.
On top of five Pacific Symphony shows, city staff foresees hosting approximately 15 shows at the amphitheater, including five Irvine Nights night market-style events, a handful of commercial acts as well as cultural and community events, such as school graduations, fundraisers and city signature events.
The commercial rental rate would be around $50,000 per night while local, community events would cost around $15,000.
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