WILMINGTON, DE Live Nation Entertainment is reportedly taking over operation of Wilmington's Queen Theatre, replacing the current manager World Cafe Live.
According to the Delaware New Journal, Live Nation signed a 10-year lease agreement to operate the theater with building owners the Buccini/Pollin Group and will be overseeing management of the historic venue when it re-opens on May 26th.
According to the News Journal, Live Nation's lease does not include the upstairs stage and restaurant at the venue. A yet-to-be-named restaurant operator will partner with Live Nation in a hybrid management's agreement to operate the facility, the News Journal said.
"To us, we feel like the Queen is going to be somewhere between the Theatre of Living Arts and The Fillmore," Michael Grozier, Live Nation's executive vice president of clubs and theatres told the News Journal/Ginger. "The Queen is a great building and a great project and we just hope to build on it. We're going to try to bring the best shows we can down to Wilmington."
Thus far, Live Nation has announced three shows at the Queen, including New Found Glory on July 12, Ween singer Gene Ween singing the songs of Billy Joel on Aug. 9 and singer/songwriter Matthew Sweet on Sept. 21. – Staff Writers
