Features
Gibson Goes Away
It has been assumed that Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., would be closing its doors someday soon, but now it’s official: the iconic building on the grounds of Universal Studios will see its last concerts in September.
At Universal CityWalk, Universal City, Calif.
Live Nation’s Southern California will assemble a “very special lineup of shows as a fitting farewell,” but the announcement is forthcoming. Events already scheduled after September are expected to be moved to other venues, and patrons who bought tickets to those shows were asked to hold on to them.“
Rick Merrill, the highly respected GM of Gibson, was unavailable for comment at press time.
The closing has been anticipated, and by most accounts Universal plans to replace the venue with a ride called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The venue, meanwhile, has every-increasing competition in Southern California from spaces like Nokia Theatre.
Photo: Jen Lowery Photography
Gibson Amph. At Univ. CityWalk, Universal City, Calif.
Events have included the MTV Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and the Teen Choice Awards. Vicente Fernandez holds the venue’s record for most consecutive sellouts with 14, and will close his final tour with three Gibson performances April 26-28. It also hosted an evening honoring Irving Azoff, who received City of Hope’s Spirit of Live Award in 2011, and the park became a private party for the concert industry.