AEG Lands Midland, Hovick

Anschutz Entertainment Group has its third building in Kansas City, Mo. – Midland Theatre – and has recruited Global Spectrum vet Larry Hovick as general manager.

The 80-year-old venue is expected to reopen late next summer following a $28 million renovation project scheduled to begin in January, according to Joe Litvag, AEG Live senior VP of Midwest operations.

Litvag said the renovations will enhance the beauty of the Midland without affecting its landmark status.

"We’re going to keep the beauty of the theatre as it has existed for many years but make it a more flexible and versatile facility," Litvag told Pollstar. "[Venue owners] Cordish Co. and AMC Entertainment have been working for the last two years on complying with all the entities that have a say in terms of it being a historic building.

"It’s really about the complex as a whole and having it be a destination on as many nights a year as possible."

Improvements include replacing permanent seating with tiered seating, which will increase capacity to more than 3,000 and improve sightlines, and upgraded sound and lighting along with a five-floor bar and banquet facility in an adjoining building.

Litvag said the Midland will fill a niche in a market that also includes the Sprint Center and Kemper Arena, each run by AEG.

"We’re going to be doing all types of shows [at the Midland], no question about it. We’re in the process of coming up with our programming strategies," he said. "Between AEG Live and AEG Facilities, we’ve got a great working relationship to help us both grow our attendance.

"This is just enhancing the market overall and will help bring even more live music to Kansas City."

Hovick, formerly a regional VP at Global Spectrum, was a consultant to RED Development on a potential arena in Sparks, Nev., prior to joining AEG Live’s Kansas City office in November.