Cirque Leaves Miami

Live Nation will not help bring Cirque du Soleil to Miami, according to LN promoter Randy McElrath, but the company is prepared to go head-to-head with AEG Live for the venue the performance troupe was planning to use.

McElrath told the city’s finance committee that Live Nation is no longer involved with the Cirque efforts, according to Miami’s City Debate newspaper. However, LN has reportedly accepted an invitation from city manager Jorge Gonzalez to compete with AEG for management and operation of the Jackie Gleason Theater.

The city-owned venue was originally approached by Cirque du Soleil and then-partner Clear Channel Entertainment with the concept of renovating the theatre for a permanent Cirque installation, similar to those in Las Vegas and at Walt Disney World.

Cirque envisioned a $130 million complex, which was pared down to a more modest remake of the theatre after the public balked at its contribution to the project. The complex was also met with opposition by nightclub owners and restaurateurs.

AEG chief exec Randy Phillips recently met with city commissioners and cautioned them that Miami does not have the demographics to sustain a Cirque show, according to The Miami Herald.

The finance committee has set a September 29th deadline for Request For Proposal submissions for the 2,700-capacity theatre, City Debate reported.