Features
1stBank Center’s New Look
A transformed
AEG Live partnered with Kroenke Sports Entertainment to create Peak Entertainment to manage the venue. Peak has given the building a complete makeover to create a state-of-the-art theatre out of what had been primarily a sports auditorium.
“We have taken a wonderfully built mini-arena with no soul, no ambience and no color and turned it into a great theatre with the strongest sound and lighting systems we could get,” Morris told Pollstar.
In addition to concerts, the 1stBank Center will continue to host sports events including ultimate cage fighting and roller derby, as well as family entertainment – what Morris said combines the best of arena production capabilities with the soul of a great theatre.
“It’s really the best of both worlds,” Morris explained, adding that a $2 million main projection screen has been installed and the docking area has been expanded to be able to handle 10-12 trucks for larger productions.
With a curtaining system and moveable stage, the 1stBank Center can be scaled to present shows from 3,500 to 6,500 capacity.
The curtaining system is made to double as a sort of video screen, with a projection system that can create a visual ambience for any event, as will artwork on the concourses. As for amenities, Morris said there will be 15 points of sale inside the building, including several “classy little bars.”
In addition to Furthur, already on the books for 2010 are Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Muse, “Sesame Street Live,” Caffeine music festival, Ultimate Fighting Championships and Denver Roller Dolls.
The 1stBank Center in 2011 will also become the home of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, an interactive museum free to the public during shows.
The Colorado Music HoF and multimedia museum will be curated by longtime Colorado rock critic G. Brown and honor artists who have created music in and about Colorado such as John Denver, Joe Walsh, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Firefall, Dan Fogelberg, Poco, Subdudes, The String Cheese Incident and The Fray.
Plans are also in the works to recognize historical locations such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Caribou Ranch recording studios. Space to honor musical institutions such as Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Etown and KBCO Studio C are also in the works.