LOS ANGELES, CA (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) – Live Nation, the world’s largest live music company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the majority of the live music assets of late Florida concert promoter Jon Stoll’s Fantasma Productions. Fantasma and Live Nation have long been two of the most successful concert promoters in the state. The acquisition includes the Fantasma calendar of shows, two important outdoor mid-sized music venues and two outdoor festivals. As part of the agreement, Mr. Stoll’s widow and Fantasma principal Lori Stoll will retain an interest in the profits of the acquired business for a period of years and take a senior position in Live Nation’s Florida office.
“Over the past year we have worked hard to strengthen our presence in the Florida market, and this agreement is a major step in that expansion,” said Neil Jacobsen, President of Live Nation Florida. “This deal represents the union of two of our state’s major live music players. Jon Stoll was a legend in the Florida music business and we are honored that Lori has agreed to become part of our team and continue the Stoll family tradition in Florida.”
The acquisition, when completed, will include the leases for the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre and Grounds in Pompano Beach (capacity 2,900) and Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton (capacity 3,500), two important Southern Florida music venues. The additions will fill important niches in Live Nation’s Florida venue portfolio which already includes the House of Blues in Orlando (capacity 2,100), the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa (capacity 19,000), Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach (capacity 19,000) and the newly-opened Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami Beach (capacity 2,100). The acquisition will also add two venues in the important mid-sized venue category in one of the top twenty markets in the United States.
“Jon spent his life creating special music events for Florida music fans,” said Ms. Stoll. “I am pleased to have found partners at Live Nation who share that commitment to excellence and to have reached a deal that provides my family with stability and the opportunity to continue what Jon built.”
