Starwood Finds Buyer

Live Nation is in “serious discussions” with a buyer for the Starwood Amphitheatre in Antioch, Tenn., and has closed the shed and eliminated several positions there pending completion of the deal, LN spokesman John Vlautin confirmed to Pollstar.

When it was originally announced the 17,500-capacity venue was going on the real estate market, Live Nation indicated the Starwood would remain open through the 2007 season. But a potential buyer quickly emerged, and with the season not yet booked it clearly makes more sense to scrap those efforts earlier rather than later.

Two 2007 dates had been booked at the Starwood: The Charlie Daniels Band Volunteer Jam March 19th, with the CDB, Marshall Tucker Band, and Outlaws confirmed; and Brad Paisley with Jack Ingram, Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler on August 11th.

It’s likely those shows will find new homes in the greater Nashville area, though Vlautin declined to comment further pending the shed’s sale.

Live Nation’s Nashville office, headed by president of country touring Brian O’Connell, won’t be affected by the sale, Vlautin said in a statement, and “Live Nation will continue to promote shows in the Nashville market through third party venues as it has done for many years.”

While Vlautin wouldn’t identify the potential buyer, the Tennessean of Nashville reported that a “real estate deal is close” and “homes [are] to rise in [the] ashes of Starwood,” suggesting the shed was history and a housing development may be in the offing for the site.