The O.C.’s Game-Changer: OCVIBE Unveils Design Of Its Concert Hall, SoCal’s New 5K-Capacity Venue

There’s something brewing in Southern California that can redefine the major live music market, and it’s not in Los Angeles. OCVIBE, an ambitious $4 billion mixed-use entertainment district anchored by the Honda Center in Anaheim, unveiled the design of a new 5,000-capacity concert hall, a venue unlike any other in Orange County.

Populous designed the new concert hall located within walking distance of Honda Center, home of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, and it is slated to open in early 2027.

OCVIBE officials see the venue as a game-changer for not only the city but all of Southern California, complementing the region’s vast venue landscape. Eric Bresler, senior vice president of OCVIBE, tells Pollstar that it fills a void in the market because “there just isn’t this type of room.”

“There was an opportunity to grow the footprint within the ecosystem of Honda Center,” says Bresler, who boasts more than 30 years of experience in the live industry and joined OCVIBE last May. “The growth of these developments and these theaters within other venues and the landscape of these venues is a trend that continues to grow.”

The concert hall is a venue that artists can aspire to play in and help them achieve many goals, while also serving as a bridge to something bigger in Honda Center, which is just a short walk away from the concert hall and is currently going through a $1 billion transformation.

Many markets are investing heavily in entertainment hubs, building on what AEG did with L.A. Live in Downtown Los Angeles decades ago and developing venues of varying sizes to create a central area where artists can grow creatively and professionally. The 100-acre district in Anaheim, backed by Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli, includes the 300-cap Golden Bear, a beloved rock club previously on Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, which is being revived as part of OCVIBE and opening in 2029.

The plan is to have artists grow within the ecosystem of OCVIBE, play the Golden Bear and then graduate to the concert hall before making the big jump to the 18,000-capacity Honda Center.

“It lends to the fact that the industry has evolved,” says Bresler. “It’s a fact that there are many artists who have graduated from playing a club and may not necessarily be ready for an arena. Now they’ve got a home to be able to build their career on a natural evolution. There’s a healthiness in our industry and a commitment from the agents, promoters and managers in artist development and longevity as opposed to the quick route.”

OCVIBE envisions the concert hall to be a sanctuary where artists and fans can connect on a more intimate level, and Populous is realizing that vision by designing a building that somehow feels compact yet large, modern and familiar, a structure that attract all kinds of artists, especially the big names exploring an underplay that can fit a few thousand more than most SoCal theaters.

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“We created OCVIBE to elevate the live performance experience for both artists and fans,” Julie Rinaldi, Principal at Populous, said in a statement. “The venue features an intimate seating bowl with outstanding acoustics and clear sightlines, ensuring every guest feels immersed in the energy on the stage. At the same time, we designed an artist-focused environment anchored by an open-air courtyard and headliner suites that embrace Southern California’s climate. Together, these elements shape a venue that is flexible, efficient and thoughtfully designed for the way live music happens today.”

Though the venue is still being constructed, Pollstar was invited to an exclusive sneak peek of the building, and the intention was quickly evident. Every inch of the space, inside and out, is efficiently designed to enhance either the fan or artist experience and deliver high-end amenities usually seen in new arenas.

Having received feedback from production contacts, OCVIBE aimed for a venue that would not only excite artists but also their crew members. Within the gated compounds where artists and their crews arrive, there are four bays dedicated to bus parking, as well as a large courtyard and patio area where they can lounge or enjoy a meal outdoors near a fire pit. There will also be two artist suites attached to it with views of the courtyard and a crew kitchen.

“The amenities backstage, in terms of how we envision the trucks and the crew, the showers, the vast amount of workspace, but really having that open-air courtyard from an environment perspective just sets us apart,” Bresler says. “We can totally see our corporate partners and special event operators taking a real liking to this room and realizing that it gives them an opportunity to build out those significant events.”

Indoors, there will be six dressing rooms with restrooms, private rooms—which can serve as offices, social spaces or even a snack bar should the artist prefer that—and lounges near the courtyard area, making it accessible and easy to navigate the inside of the building and the outdoor component of the artist compound.

“A key point is that Henry and Susan Samueli, the owners putting all this together, are music fans themselves,” says Erin Quigley, vice president and assistant general manager of the concert hall. “So they get it and give our team the liberties to have those conversations and do our thing and do what’s right.”

There are four levels to the venue, with the floor entirely open and versatile, capable of hosting just about any event: from an awards show to a mixed martial arts match. The 80-foot-by-40-foot stage can also be expanded to feature larger acts, such as an orchestra.

Kevin Starkey, OCVIBE’s chief venue management officer, adds that the state-of-the-art L-Acoustics sound system, full lighting package, LED screens and strong rigging capabilities are designed to make it easier on the production team, making it “ideally plug and play.”

“We really hope they don’t take much gear off of their trucks,” Starkey says. “If they need to, they can add to our lighting grid of the PA. It’d be very easy to do.”

Premium loge seating is located on the second level, featuring club and GA seating and exclusive access to The Gallagher Club, which boasts refined amenities and has a deck for guests who want to get some fresh air. It overlooks the Urban Park, which includes the Katella Commons, a food-driven market hall, and offers fans a closer look at the Stretto, a 62-foot-tall steel art installation designed as a visual gateway between the concert hall and the Urban Park. There will also be the Stretto Café operating daily beneath the art installation.

“Gallagher is proud to support a venue built for the next generation of live entertainment,” Christopher Mead, chief marketing officer at Gallagher, said. “We’re honored to partner on this project combining exceptional guest experiences with thoughtful planning for the future while supporting the communities where we live, work, and play.”

Level 3 has lounge spaces with couch-style banquet seating, and the very top will have main seating as well as drink rails, giving fans various options and social spaces.

OCVIBE envisions the district to have an impact every day with its eateries and venues, creating a destination that isn’t solely event-driven. Above the Katella Commons, there will be a massive, high-impact LED screen courtesy of Daktronics, expected to display images and promotional material, as well as live event feeds for watch parties.

Everything about the mixed-use development has been discussed and thoroughly planned, rivaling everything its L.A. neighbor has to offer. Bresler, a SoCal native who previously worked for AEG facilities like Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), isn’t necessarily looking to compete but to distinguish itself in the market.

“We all spend a lot of time talking about this and asking, ‘What is our best approach? What is our passion? What is our enthusiasm?’ To get people to understand that the [O.C.] market is a market all into its own,” Bresler says. “I think we’re cutting through that one show at a time, one communication at a time, selling out great shows.”

In three years, OCVIBE will be doing just that across four venues: Golden Bear, Grove of Anaheim, the concert hall and Honda Center.

For additional information and updates about the much-anticipated concert hall, visit ocvibe.com/concerthall.