AEG Acquires Midland Theater In KC

KANSAS CITY, MO (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — AEG Live has been selected to handle booking and operations at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, giving the promoter a firm lock with control of the three biggest venues in town, the Kansas City Star reported.

The 80-year-old theatre is currently undergoing a $28 million dollar refurb which will reconfigure the venue to have an open sever tier design which will allow cabaret style seating with tables rather than the current auditorium seating.

Other changes include a five-level bar, a lounge and a rock club to be called The Indie which will be serviced by a separate entrance. The renovations are currently on track to be completed by summer of 2008.

AEG's partnership with Cordish in this has led some observers to the conclusion that AEG is positioning itself to compete with the House of Blues chain which AEG's chief competitor Live Nation acquired last year. Cordish, in addition to real estate development, operates lounge and cabaret-style live entertainment venues, including Mark Bourbon House & Lounge in Louisville and the premier NASCAR Sports Grille at Universal City Walk in Orlando.

Kansas City residents such as Contemporary productions Joe Litvag are hopeful that the new venue will help the city to lure a more diverse range of artists such as Santana there. "In the past, Kansas City has not been a big market for him," Litvag told the KC Star, "He’s borderline if it’s an arena, but now with a 3,000-person venue, it’s a good location." – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers