The 300-acre Hollywood Park development and streaming video giant YouTube have partnered in an extensive multi-year agreement that names the development’s 6,000-seat performance venue YouTube Theater. The partnership is YouTube’s first-ever major naming rights deal and will serve as an anchor for the sprawling Hollywood Park mixed-use development in Inglewood, Calif., being developed by Los Angeles Rams owner and chairman Stan Kroenke.
Construction is set to wrap for the theater later this summer. A yet-to-be announced opening event is slated for soon after.
“YouTube Theater will drive the uniqueness of YouTube by combining physical, ‘in real life’ events that bring creators and fans together, while simultaneously sharing that same event experience with our two billion global monthly users through livestreams and VOD content,” says Angela Courtin, vp of brand marketing at YouTube. “YouTube creators and artists are the heart of YouTube and YouTube Theater adds to the portfolio of opportunities to drive their creativity, build their businesses, grow their communities and so much more.”
“When he set out to build YouTube Theater, Stan Kroenke envisioned an intimate, world-class venue that exemplified three core aspects: technology, creativity, and entertainment. We cannot imagine a better partner to help us bring this vision to life than YouTube,” said Jason Gannon, managing director, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. “YouTube Theater will be open to the public this summer as Los Angeles’ new home for esports, community gatherings, concerts, and all types of live entertainment. YouTube Theater is the next step for Hollywood Park as we develop and deliver on creating a true sports and entertainment destination across our 300 acres.”
Hollywood Park and Live Nation have partnered in an exclusive multi-year booking agreement and have already confirmed Caifanes, Los Angeles Azules, Pitbull, Black Pumas, Devo, Trippie Redd, Alejandro Sanz, Christian Nodal, Marina and Louis Tomlinson to play shows at the theater in 2021 and 2022. Guests at the theater will be introduced to state-of-the-art technology and premium finishes that elevate the fan experience.
The innovative features at YouTube Theater include a large scale digital YouTube play button icon outside the venue, which can transform into an immersive digital wall on the interior that will be used to celebrate YouTube creators and artists by showcasing them in a gallery-like setting. This agreement builds upon YouTube parent company Google’s previously announced partnerships with Hollywood Park that made Google Cloud the exclusive cloud partner of the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers and their home SoFi Stadium. Google Cloud is the exclusive cloud partner of YouTube Theater as well.
YouTube will be the exclusive video services and music streaming services partner of YouTube Theater, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park and the exclusive video services partner and an official music streaming services partner of the Rams and Chargers.
YouTube Theater is a 227,000 sq.-ft., three-story indoor venue with a 6,100 sq.-ft. stage and the farthest seat in the house only 164 feet away from the stage. The venue itself is blended seamlessly in at the southernmost corner of the same roof canopy that stretches over SoFi Stadium and American Airlines Plaza. Complete with a two-story Kaynemaile chandelier, the theater will feature six luxury boxes, a 1,200 square-foot premium back-of-house hospitality space — with adjacent dressing rooms — and a 3,500 sq.-ft. private club with 140 premium seats.
Legends Global Partnerships division sourced, negotiated and represented Hollywood Park in securing this partnership.
