Massey Overhaul

The 2,753-capacity venue, which has hosted everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Bruce Springsteen along its more than century-old career, is starting a $35 million preliminary makeover but is only expected to shut down during Phase 2, which isn’t expected until 2019 at the earliest.

That phase should last between 18 and 24 months, according to a statement. Initial construction includes building a new two-story basement. It is also modernizing the back of house, technical and production facilities and the venue’s “very first loading dock” – a phrase that is apparently accurate.

“Since 1894, all concerts have loaded into Massey Hall through our front doors and up a ramp that we have installed every day up the center aisle,” a venue spokesman told Pollstar. “Thankfully, this revitalization will make that load-in process much simpler.”