Live Nation Canada acquires Toronto’s historic Opera House
Live Nation Canada announced on Wednesday it has acquired the rights to Toronto’s legendary Opera House music venue.
Athena Ellinas-Towers, the Opera House’s general manager, confirmed that shows and concerts will be booked through Live Nation Canada, with tickets sold on Ticketmaster.
“The success of this legendary venue is due to the support from our partners, promoters, artists, management and agents who trusted us with hosting their events over the years,” said Ellinas-Towers in a statement.
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“Most importantly, our staff, those that are here with us today and those that have been here throughout the past. We are honoured to have Live Nation Canada continue to bring the best in music, culture and fan experiences to our historic venue for years to come.”
The Opera House considered one of Toronto’s best music venues
Located in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood on Queen Street East, the Opera House opened in 1909 and, at the time, seated nearly 900 people under the name La Plaza Theatre. In 1989 the building was sold and transformed into what is now known as the Opera House.
The Ellinas family, behind purchasing the historic music and entertainment venue 35 years ago, will remain involved in the Opera House’s daily operations.
Photo: Toronto Opera House.
The Opera House has since hosted a wide array of talented artists and bands worldwide, including Metallica, Nirvana, Eminem, Foo Fighters, The Black Eyed Peas and Green Day, among others.
“We’re honoured to add the Opera House to our venue portfolio in Canada,” Live Nation Canada Business Operations President Wayne Zronik said.
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“This venue has played an important role in shaping Toronto’s vibrant arts and culture scene, and we’re eager to showcase the best of the Opera House and build on the legacy the Ellinas family has built.”
Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets yearly in more than 30 countries.
Around 70 per cent of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers last year.
