Rendering of the proposed new Irvine (Calif.) Amphitheater.
Thirty-five-year-old Orange County, Calif. live music venue, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, is being torn down; Gwen Stefani will play the last show at the iconic facility Sun., Oct. 30. The land will then be used to build apartment homes.
With the goal of continuing the 35-year tradition of live summer music in Orange County, developer FivePoint and Live Nation Entertainment have announced a joint project to build an 8,000 to 10,000-seat interim outdoor amphitheater adjacent to Orange County Great Park in Irvine. Plans are then to build a permanent venue, pending approval from the city of Irvine.
Live Nation Entertainment currently runs Irvine Meadows and has been doing so since the venue opened. If the city approves the temporary structure, Live Nation will finance, design and build it. FivePoint, on behalf of the property owner, Heritage Fields El Toro, LLC, has already applied for a conditional use permit with the city of Irvine to allow Live Nation to proceed on the interim venue, which sets on approximately 45 acres next to the Orange County Great Park, at the end of the historic runways of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.
The interim facility would be less than two miles from Irvine Meadows Amphitheater. FivePoint is asking for a three-year permit for Live Nation to run the new venue while the city determines the best course of action regarding a permanent live music venue. If the plans are approved in a timely manner, Live Nation hopes to have the temporary facility up and running by summer 2017.
The interim amphitheater will be adjacent to the Orange County Great Park, but is on FivePoint land. FivePoint had to apply for a conditional use permit with the city of Irvine because it will be for public use. As outlined in its permit application, FivePoint will make available a portion of the private property that borders the Orange County Great Park for the construction and operation of an interim venue for up to three years.
The City of Irvine’s master plan for the Great Park calls for a permanent outdoor amphitheater in the “cultural terrace” portion of the park on city land.
Rendering of the proposed new Irvine Amphitheater.
“Our lease is up and not getting renewed,” said Bret Gallagher, president of Southern California Live Nation. “The landlord has a new use for the property. We need somewhere to go. Orange County has become a major concert stop for touring musical acts, and Live Nation is committed to keeping the long tradition of live summer concerts alive and growing in this region.” Gallagher said that a petition asking the city to approve the new venue in Irvine has collected more than 30,000 signatures.
“We’ve been working with the city of Irvine and our developing partner FivePoint for several years trying to figure out how to approach this,” said Gallagher. “We all determined that the Great Park would be perfect. It’s a great location and will benefit a lot of people if we build there. FivePoint is the land owner, we’ll own the building.”
The idea, according to Gallagher, is to build the interim amphitheater with the eventual goal being the creation of a permanent venue. “But first, the temporary application has to be approved,” he said. Gallagher estimates the approval process will take 45-60 days. “Once the temporary structure is approved, we’ll start to work with the city on a permanent solution. The strategy is to work hand-in-hand with the city to move everything forward.”
The rationale behind building a temporary site rather then diving straight into a permanent site is keeping continuity for Irvine live music fans. “We’ve operated the Irvine Amphitheater for many, many years and put on many great shows there, and the citizens of Irvine and Orange County love to go to shows. The temporary venue will continue the tradition and allows fans to keep seeing great shows while the city figures out what they want to do.”
A budget has not been established yet for the temporary amphitheater. “It will be a little smaller than the current amphitheater because it will not have a lawn,” said Gallagher. There is also no timetable in place for when a permanent venue will be built. “The city council needs to make all those decisions.”
“FivePoint has filed an interim use permit with the city to open a 12,000-seat outdoor venue,” said Craig Reem, director of public affairs and communications, city of Irvine, “An interim use permit does not require a public hearing or Planning Commission review. The proposal is subject to approval by the Director of Community Development; however, staff will seek City Council direction prior to determining whether to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the proposed project.”
“At this point, the City Council’s first responsibility for a proposal of this size is to the Irvine community,” said Reem. “Of ongoing concern everywhere in the city is traffic congestion and circulation issues. For an operation of this size, flow of traffic and access for public safety and the Orange County Fire Authority are key. Adequate parking, ease of entry and ease of exit, pedestrian access to the site, lighting, noise and glare also are among the issues that need to be satisfied.”
Reem had no date for when the City Council or the Great Park Board will discuss this issue.
“The interim venue is projected to be around for three years,” said Steve Churm, chief communications officer, FivePoint. “The permanent amphitheater does not have a date set for construction. The city is still determining what amenities, including a possible amphitheater, they want to include in the Orange County Great Park. There is currently no name for either the temporary or permanent venues. What we do know is that it will be a full-service venue with all of the conveniences and features today’s music fan looks for in a major concert facility.”
Churm said that the project was being modeled after The America’s Cup Pavilion, a Live Nation interim facility that worked well near the waterfront in San Francisco.
Churm also said that FivePoint is working with the city to conduct a traffic study. “We are looking at two routes to get to the venue. One is from Chinon, next to Portola High School. The other is from Cadence Street off Great Park Boulevard, formerly Trabuco Road. We’re also going to build a 4,500-car parking structure.” The proposed location is about 1,000 feet from the Irvine train station, and the plan is to create a direct path from the station to the amphitheater.
“We are here to help and support the city,” Churm said.
Interviewed for this story: Bret Gallagher, (323) 769-4716; Craig Reem (949) 724-607, Steve Churm, (949) 394-1454