Entertainment giant Live Nation presented plans Thursday for a 4,500-seat entertainment venue at the former Civic Arena site in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District.
The plan, first approved in May 2023, is seeking an adjustment, as the attached parking garage now will be pursued separately.
California-based Live Nation told officials at Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority that it is taking over as the primary developer of the $64 million entertainment venue coming first.
The 98,000-square-foot venue will occupy a site a block away from PPG Paints Arena on Wylie Avenue between Fullerton and Logan streets.
Construction should start in the fall, and Live Nation hopes to open in the first quarter of 2026. The URA still needs to approve the plan.
“We are grateful for the URA for having us today to share our vision for a live music venue in the Lower Hill District that will bring even more entertainment to the city and create jobs for residents,” said Tom Loudermilk, president of Live Nation Pittsburgh.
The venue will include 7,600 square feet of commercial space, including URA retail incubator space, and a ballroom.
Construction companies Turner and PJ Dick will build the entertainment structure, officials said.
A six-story, 910-space parking garage that was part of the initial proposal is being pursued separately from the entertainment venue project — run by a separate developer.
The combined project was being pursued by the Pittsburgh Penguins. But Craig Dunham, vice president of development for the Penguins, said the franchise was struggling to finance the parking garage because of rising construction costs.
For those reasons, the project was split into two, Dunham said, with the music venue coming first.
Dunham said he expects the entertainment venue to move forward with pace.
“We have a very motivated partner in Live Nation,” he said.
Live Nation said it is committed to a $2 surcharge on tickets sold for events at the entertainment venue, something that previously was agreed to. Proceeds from the surcharge will be directed to the Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund.
The fund is being administered by the URA to provide grants for development projects throughout the Hill District.
Officials said the surcharge will be in place for at least 10 years.
City Councilman and URA board member Daniel Lavelle said he appreciates Live Nation’s commitment to the community.
“For me, all the things you have done show you want to be a strong community partner,” he said.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.