Portland Music Hall | Cumberland Avenue

[Portlander]

And in fairness to the Portland City Council, this vote was nothing more than a moratorium on large concert venues. It does not mean that the Portland Music Hall cannot eventually happen but it sure creates doubt for any developer considering doing business in Portland down the road. First national chains, then hotels, and now music halls, what will be next? I also wonder if this will have an effect on the rest of the Herald Square project moving forward?

 

[cneal]

My counterpoint would be that Portland's economy didn't suffer in 2006 when the Council enacted a short moratorium on franchise restaurants – in fact, the city entered a renaissance period for food and dining and attracted a surge in business and real estate investment (and Hooters, which prompted the moratorium because it wanted to open a restaurant here, is now in bankruptcy court).

Besides that, there are credible arguments to be made (and being made by both the Biden and Trump administrations) that Live Nation and Ticketmaster are monopolies in the concert business – and monopolies aren't good for the economy, especially for the industries they dominate.

Plus, Mainers consistently over-estimate how important tourism is to the economy. $9 billion in tourist spending only represents about 10 percent of the state's $78 billion annual economic output. Bear in mind that the previous proposal for this site was affordable housing, which is a much higher priority for the city's economic development. If a concert hall doesn't get built here, something else will be instead – and it'll probably be more useful to the city as a whole.

 

[nomc]

What is happening to my hometown? Are we getting so full of ourselves as a city that we can now pick and choose whatever fits our current agenda while ignoring change that will benefit the masses over satisfying a few naysayers. The dissidents don't have to attend performances at the proposed music hall but don't ruin it for those who would like to have another option. This venue fills a seating capacity void in the greater Portland market and would not "steal" shows from the Cross (8500), the State (1600) or the Merrill (1900) and would give touring acts more choices.

I don't get it either. I've said it many times before, the general public should have input on setting policy but not on individual projects.

 

[mainejeff]

TC, thanks for that... I do know I've seen Amy Allen, either at the Old Port Festival or the Clam Festival, and I do recall Spose though I can't say for sure if I ever saw him. And I'll add in Julia Gagnon, although I didn't know if she counts as poorly local since I first heard of her on American Idol.

But to speak to Portlander's point, I think there has been a tendency, if not a low-key conspiracy of sorts, for Portland to only embrace the avant-garde, Indy scene, and to discourage anything that might attract "the masses." It's not just the music hall; I think similar intents were in play when GMRI wanted to build an aquarium. To steal a New York-ism, the people protesting this don't want Portland to attract the bridge-and-tunnel crowd.

Just my possibly paranoid opinion.

You hit it on the head and might be the reason that I always felt vaguely uncomfortable on my recent travels into Portland proper. Such a cool place to be but also seems like a high school clique....with lots of $$$.

 

[Portlander]

Screen shot from this evening's WGME 13 newscast and finally some optimism from Portland's leadership. The Mayor mentioned that Live Nation has met all of the requirements and then some to move forward with the project.

 

[TC_zoid]

It's probably best that this does get approved despite the outcry. I went to Brit Floyd (The Pink Floyd cover band from England) at the Merrill last night and it was an incredible show. We sat in the upper balcony, and the laser light show component was spectacular to see from up there. But it's a bit precarious on the third level of Merrill with the steep and narrow seating. And then there is the unspectacular food, drink, and merch areas. With this new venue, it will all go up a level in enjoyment. Live Nation will be all over the aforementioned features along with VIP seating/suites.

(You can see the giant pig in the back, to the right.)
View attachment image0 (4).jpeg

 

[PWMFlyer]

It's probably best that this does get approved despite the outcry. I went to Brit Floyd (The Pink Floyd cover band from England) at the Merrill last night and it was an incredible show. We sat in the upper balcony, and the laser light show component was spectacular to see from up there. But it's a bit precarious on the third level of Merrill with the steep and narrow seating. And then there is the unspectacular food, drink, and merch areas. With this new venue, it will all go up a level in enjoyment. Live Nation will be all over the aforementioned features along with VIP seating/suites.

(You can see the giant pig in the back, to the right.)
View attachment 71149

Merrill has alot of issues that the public does not see and it's an embarrassment. Catering is done in a trailer outside because the city refuses to build a kitchen, the loading dock is causing issues and costing money to acts. The ceiling is crumbling, again acts refuse to come to Portland due to the lack of loading docks and a green room

 

[TC_zoid]

Merrill has alot of issues that the public does not see and it's an embarrassment. Catering is done in a trailer outside because the city refuses to build a kitchen, the loading dock is causing issues and costing money to acts. The ceiling is crumbling, again acts refuse to come to Portland due to the lack of loading docks and a green room

I didn't know it was that bad. I've worked with some notable music acts and if the green room and dressing rooms are too small or blah, they won't come, or again. Some will use their tour bus. Cross Insurance Arena has this problem too. Many Mainers think that all you have to do is offer them a lobster roll and they'll be happy.

 

[MarkHB]

Hopefully it goes through, although I wonder what it will do for the planned indoor/outdoor performance space at Rock Row (which was also supposed to be a Live Nation venue). I have to wonder what the alleged threat to local venues is; it's not like they're booking national acts now (even CIA barely has concerts). Portland House of Music isn't going to bring in Sabrina Carpenter and this place isn't going to be hosting a Devonsquare / Schooner Fare reunion concert. If the theory is that, in the absence of popular national acts people will go see Joe's Garage Band at Geno's instead.... go pound sand.

Also, the government has announced a settlement with LN; the biggest thing reported in Maine is that they'll have to divest Bangor as part of it.

 

[TC_zoid]

A new 800 capacity venue/club opens up in the warehouse-like space ($3.5 million renovation) across from Roux and WEX tomorrow night. This will help. And speaking of Sabrina Carpenter, it's not such a remote chance that she could perform here in Portland. Amy Allen, who used to perform small gigs here in Portland with her band, grew up in Windham and writes Carpenter's best songs. They've become BFFs. She's won 3 Grammys writing not just Sabrina's songs, but one for Harry Styles too. Amy could make it happen. Why not? Taylor Swift shot some segments of a music video in Cape Elizabeth. And Drew Taggert (The Chainsmokers and he has a Grammy) is from Falmouth. And Spose has some credibility from a big label record deal awhile back. And maybe mastering icon Bob Ludwig would show up to lend support (13 Grammys). He does all of his work in the parking garage next to the Westin. Bruce Springsteen has visited him here.