Anaheim Arena Goes AEG

As anticipated, Anaheim, Calif.’s city council unanimously approved AEG as exclusive promoter for the city’s convention center arena December 20th.

The five-year agreement is expected to improve the fortunes of a building that has survived on a diet of conventions, circuses and car shows. The 8,800-capacity Anaheim Convention Center Arena is similar in capacity to the theatre setup at The Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, which is also owned by the city.

The Orange County market is also home to House of Blues Anaheim and U.C. Irvine’s Bren Events Center.

The agreement with AEG should revive concerts in an arena that hosted The Doors and Jefferson Airplane at its 1967 debut, according to The Orange County Register.

AEG had already drawn up and signed the contract before the city council meeting. The city manager and convention center entertainment director Greg Smith are expected to add their John Hancocks by the end of the year.

“Right now, we’re working on trying to put together an agreement with the NBA Developmental League, and (AEG’s) Dana Warg has been working with us on that,” convention center GM David Meek told Pollstar.

A deal is expected to be in place by the end of January.

“AEG is going to have an office down here at the facility and they want to hire some people to work out of the office,” Meek said. “After the first of the year, we expect to be going full blast.”

AEG is expected to have 150 to 175 days a year to book shows at the venue.

– Joe Reinartz