Venue capacity

Thrashssacre · 29-04-2019 3:36pm #1

Does Ireland lose out on more international acts then it might due to the massive difference in size between vicar street and the Olympia both under 2,000 and the 3 arena which is nearly 15,000? Other venues which I can think of are all on the smaller size which raises the question of why a medium size venue isn’t considered.

Button factory: 7/800
Voddoo lounge: 7/800
Whelans: 450
Academy 1: 850
Academy green room: 550
Academy 2: 230
The grand social: 250

There seems a huge saturation of small venues surely one of around 5000 would help attract more acts to Ireland?

Passenger · 29-04-2019 3:46pm

The Voodoo Lounge is more like 400. Plus there's the Bord Gais Theater which is more of a mid-sized venue at 2000+.

The Nal · 29-04-2019 3:50pm

Absolutely this. We need a 5 or 6k capacity venue. We're missing out on so many gigs as a result.

Thrashssacre · 29-04-2019 3:52pm

Passenger wrote: »

The Voodoo Lounge is more like 400. Plus there's the Bord Gais Theater which is more of a mid-sized venue at 2000+.

Bord Gais doesn’t allow standing which is a problem for some acts though. I know a lot of people certainly don’t be happy seeing acts their and not being able to stand.

delbertgrady · 29-04-2019 4:09pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Bord Gais doesn’t allow standing which is a problem for some acts though. I know a lot of people certainly don’t be happy seeing acts their and not being able to stand.

Everyone stood in the Bord Gais for Suede last year.

The Nal · 29-04-2019 4:16pm

delbertgrady wrote: »

Everyone stood in the Bord Gais for Suede last year.

Yeah but getting to to the toilets/bar is a pain. Its not a "rock n roll" venue.

Thrashssacre · 29-04-2019 4:17pm

delbertgrady wrote: »

Everyone stood in the Bord Gais for Suede last year.

Oh I had heard the seats weren’t removable maybe I heard wrong? I’ve only been in the venue once and I was near the top and it was all seating.

phunkadelic · 29-04-2019 4:20pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Oh I had heard the seats weren’t removable maybe I heard wrong? I’ve only been in the venue once and I was near the top and it was all seating.

Yeah the seats remained in place. People stood up at their seats.
Yeah a 5k venue would have been grand for Tame Impala and lots of others

The Nal · 29-04-2019 4:20pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Oh I had heard the seats weren’t removable maybe I heard wrong? I’ve only been in the venue once and I was near the top and it was all seating.

They're not removable but everyone stood up.

fafy · 29-04-2019 4:28pm

Good point.

I would have thought the Olympia with ground floor seats out, would be 2,000 ish

Thrashssacre · 29-04-2019 4:31pm

fafy wrote: »

Good point.

I would have thought the Olympia with ground floor seats out, would be 2,000 ish

1621 for standing and 1302 for seating apparently, agree it does feel more then that though.

Zardoz · 29-04-2019 4:55pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

There seems a huge saturation of small venues surely one of around 5000 would help attract more acts to Ireland?

One is supposed to built in Cork but BAM is doing its best to scupper it ,much like its doing with the National Childrens Hospital.

Thrashssacre · 29-04-2019 4:58pm

Zardoz wrote: »

One is supposed to built in Cork but BAM is doing its best to scupper it ,much like its doing with the National Childrens Hospital.

Regardless Dublin would still need it’s own venue of that size having a 5k venue in cork would do no harm in bringing more over too though, it allows relatively big acts to do 3 nights in Ireland
Cork: event center
Dublin: 3 arena
Belfast: SSE arena

Jurgen The German · 29-04-2019 5:03pm

Citywest Hotel were trying to get planning for a mid size event venue but were scuppered, it's the ideal destination imo given its proximity to the Luas and its relatively accessible location.

corm500 · 29-04-2019 5:12pm

Dublin could do with a 2k+ and a 6k+ venue. What does the RDS main hall hold? Don’t know if they still use it but saw a few gigs there over the years.

fafy · 29-04-2019 5:12pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

1621 for standing and 1302 for seating apparently, agree it does feel more then that though.

Theres no way this is being adhered to, have not been been to many gigs in there where floor was standing, but the ones i have, the floor was totally rammed, and definitely waymore, than 300 in excess of what there would be on the floor l, had it been seated.
Gigs like: Arcade Fire, Kings Of Leon, & R.E.M.

corm500 · 29-04-2019 5:15pm

Jurgen The German wrote: »

Citywest Hotel were trying to get planning for a mid size event venue but were scuppered, it's the ideal destination imo given its proximity to the Luas and its relatively accessible location.

They do have decent venue there that they use for Disney on Ice type stuff. I think they have also used it for gigs, I remember Dionne Warwick playing there, and Glenn Campbell. Not sure why they don’t use it more often, considering it is on the Luas route and is attached to one of the biggest hotels in Europe

Thrashssacre · 29-04-2019 5:18pm

corm500 wrote: »

They do have decent venue there that they use for Disney on Ice type stuff. I think they have also used it for gigs, I remember Dionne Warwick playing there, and Glenn Campbell. Not sure why they don’t use it more often, considering it is on the Luas route and is attached to one of the biggest hotels in Europe

I’ve been to the wolfe tone gigs at the end of the year and I can’t speak too kindly of it, it literally feels like a function room you’d be in at a wedding. Location wise it wouldn’t be great for people who live in the further reaches of north Dublin or even places like bray or greystones you’d be 2 hours plus getting there BÁC public transport.

The Nal · 29-04-2019 5:24pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

I’ve been to the wolfe tone gigs at the end of the year and I can’t speak too kindly of it, it literally feels like a function room you’d be in at a wedding. Location wise it wouldn’t be great for people who live in the further reaches of north Dublin or even places like bray or greystones you’d be 2 hours plus getting there BÁC public transport.

Yep its an hour to the Point on the Luas from Citiwest. A fúcking hour. Its 9 miles away.

Furious-Red · 29-04-2019 5:27pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

I’ve been to the wolfe tone gigs at the end of the year and I can’t speak too kindly of it, it literally feels like a function room you’d be in at a wedding. Location wise it wouldn’t be great for people who live in the further reaches of north Dublin or even places like bray or greystones you’d be 2 hours plus getting there BÁC public transport.

But it would be handier for people outside of dublin as they can pull off on the motorway without having to drive into town , which means they can avoid the city centre traffic

Thrashssacre · 29-04-2019 5:32pm

Furious-Red wrote: »

But it would be handier for people outside of dublin as they can pull off on the motorway without having to drive into town , which means they can avoid the city centre traffic

Yeah but those people also can’t drink alcohol so that’s something a venue would have to consider, bad location means More people drive, less people drink and the venue makes less money.

corm500 · 29-04-2019 7:03pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Yeah but those people also can’t drink alcohol so that’s something a venue would have to consider, bad location means More people drive, less people drink and the venue makes less money.

But the hotel has almost 800 rooms for those of us that like a tipple. it just seems a bit of a waste as a venue. It could be decent, it has tiered seating and a wraparound balcony when the Disney on ice is on. Like a larger Vicar Street.

Wooderson · 29-04-2019 8:54pm

Who are the 5-6k shows we’re missing? In the summer the likes of Trinity/Iveagh/Kilmainham have this sized crowd sewn up. In winter they can throw up the curtains at the Point.

Imo we’re missing out on shows as a result of the duopoly.

JamieHP · 30-04-2019 3:04am

Citywest honestly would be perfect. Can't get around my head why MCD or Aiken arent using it for gigs.

The Davestator · 30-04-2019 9:16am

The INEC in Killarney has 3,000 but the location and lack of hotel rooms in Killarney (and the cost) means it's not a great option

Wooderson · 30-04-2019 10:14am

The new Vicar St might fill this gap. Fail to see a single show that wasnt financially viable due to venue sizes here however. As I mentioned, we have outdoor spaces in the summer, we have oodles of festivals. The issue lies with the promoters appetite for risk, the irish music scene's "sell it out or be perceived as a fail / go broke" approach and Ireland's relative geographic periphery.

Bummer1234 · 30-04-2019 11:11am

How much does the different rooms in the RDS hold?

If (a big if) it was to ever happen and ireland won the Eurovision....Where would it be held? Is the 3arena large enough now or whats the criteria?

Furious-Red · 30-04-2019 11:16am

Bummer1234 wrote: »

How much does the different rooms in the RDS hold?

If (a big if) it was to ever happen and ireland won the Eurovision....Where would it be held? Is the 3arena large enough now or whats the criteria?

I think the biggest indoor room in the RDS holds about 8-9000? Could be wrong

Weepsie · 30-04-2019 11:18am

corm500 wrote: »

Dublin could do with a 2k+ and a 6k+ venue. What does the RDS main hall hold? Don’t know if they still use it but saw a few gigs there over the years.

Doesn't matter. It's a terrible venue. Sound is crap.

Furious-Red · 30-04-2019 11:20am

Weepsie wrote: »

Doesn't matter. It's a terrible venue. Sound is crap.

With the recession being "over" i wonder would they build the one that was supposedly going to be apart of the Point Village

rubadub · 30-04-2019 1:35pm

Gaiety listed as 2000 online
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaiety_Theatre,_Dublin

It doesn't seem to get many gigs

Olympia Capacity 1,287 seated[1] 1,600 standing and seating
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia_Theatre,_Dublin

Vicar street Capacity 1,050 (seated) 1,500 (standing)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicar_Street

I wish more were in bord gais, at least the seats (that I was in anyway) had fairly decent legroom, unlike the olympia where some are terrible. I heard it dated back to it being so old, and people being shorter back then.

Furious-Red · 30-04-2019 1:43pm

rubadub wrote: »

Gaiety listed as 2000 online
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaiety_Theatre,_Dublin

It doesn't seem to get many gigs

Olympia Capacity 1,287 seated[1] 1,600 standing and seating
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia_Theatre,_Dublin

Vicar street Capacity 1,050 (seated) 1,500 (standing)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicar_Street

I wish more were in bord gais, at least the seats (that I was in anyway) had fairly decent legroom, unlike the olympia where some are terrible. I heard it dated back to it being so old, and people being shorter back then.

I think with the BGET they prob want to keep it as clean as possible because when i went to a show there just before X-Mas you couldn't bring drink in with you to the auditorium itself. Its a lovely venue and i think it could work for more gigs even if you have to pick a seat etc

phantom_lord · 30-04-2019 3:04pm

I thought the academy was 1100?

The Nal · 30-04-2019 3:15pm

phantom_lord wrote: »

I thought the academy was 1100?

650 downstairs and 200 upstairs.

Sh1te venue if youre downstairs.

AndrewJRenko · 30-04-2019 3:29pm

rubadub wrote: »

I wish more were in bord gais, at least the seats (that I was in anyway) had fairly decent legroom, unlike the olympia where some are terrible. I heard it dated back to it being so old, and people being shorter back then.

They replaced the seats in the Olympia a year or two ago. The new ones are a big improvement - reasonable comfortable for a tall guy.

rubadub · 30-04-2019 3:32pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

They replaced the seats in the Olympia a year or two ago. The new ones are a big improvement - reasonable comfortable for a tall guy.

I thought that was only in the stalls downstairs though? most gigs I would go to have standing but I prefer the circle.

They went and scrapped the good row downstairs with which had a huge gap for people to walk through so all the leg room you need, and no need to stand up for people trying to go to the toilet/bar.

Wooderson · 30-04-2019 4:08pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

They replaced the seats in the Olympia a year or two ago. The new ones are a big improvement - reasonable comfortable for a tall guy.

Ye think? I’m not that tall and found a recent show there in the circle to be the exact same - a total mess.

rubadub · 30-04-2019 4:09pm

It seems it was just the stalls, I remember my father being well pissed off, he had bought for the old row thinking it still had all that legroom.

https://www.olympia.ie/buy-tickets/seating-layout

Please note, we have recently installed brand new seating in the Stalls area. The layout on the ground floor Stalls area has therefore changed for every seated show. You can find an amazing timelapse video of the installation here, produced by Kerbute Productions.

See old "row G"

and the new one, which does seem to have more space between rows, maybe they just got rid of the walkway and evenly spread out that space, i.e. possibly has the same number of rows overall

phunkadelic · 01-05-2019 10:27am

Mr.S wrote: »

Reduced capacity 3Area (with the curtain of shame) is sometimes used to fill this gap but it’s always a weird atmosphere. Given how big the space is.

Probably raised before - LiveNation actually blocked Citywest from expanding their site into a proper concert venues, go figure :rolleyes:

That said, not sure if Citywest is an ideal location, pretty far from the city centre by public transport.

They want to keep all the action in the venues they own themselves.

L1011 · 01-05-2019 10:32am

corm500 wrote: »

Dublin could do with a 2k+ and a 6k+ venue. What does the RDS main hall hold? Don’t know if they still use it but saw a few gigs there over the years.

Acoustics in Simmonscourt are awful beyond the ability of being fixed from memory.

Old Main Hall is too low/too many support pillars really although I know gigs are held there - presume some are seated?

Have been told an anecdote that may be bollox of one of the first acts to play the original Point talking about how they wouldn't play Dublin until it was built after one gig in Simmonscourt!

I don't trust this list as all actually being Simmonscourt - fairly sure were Arena (outdoor) - https://www.setlist.fm/venue/rds-simmonscourt-dublin-ireland-1bd63934.html

L1011 · 01-05-2019 10:49am

Poking through Setlists and I see there's been a few gigs in the Convention Centre. That must have a fairly decent capacity if its the main hall?

odyssey06 · 01-05-2019 10:51am

L1011 wrote: »

Poking through Setlists and I see there's been a few gigs in the Convention Centre. That must have a fairly decent capacity if its the main hall?

This holds 2000 but it isn't main hall:
https://www.theccd.ie/view-the-venue/the-auditorium

AndrewJRenko · 01-05-2019 12:24pm

rubadub wrote: »

It seems it was just the stalls, I remember my father being well pissed off, he had bought for the old row thinking it still had all that legroom.

https://www.olympia.ie/buy-tickets/seating-layout

See old "row G"

and the new one, which does seem to have more space between rows, maybe they just got rid of the walkway and evenly spread out that space, i.e. possibly has the same number of rows overall

Yes, it was the stalls seating that was replaced. I was apprehensive about the loss of Row G too, but the new seats downstairs are fine.

Zardoz · 01-05-2019 4:57pm

Bummer1234 wrote: »

How much does the different rooms in the RDS hold?

If (a big if) it was to ever happen and ireland won the Eurovision....Where would it be held? Is the 3arena large enough now or whats the criteria?

The 3Arena would be more than adequate .
The venue holding it in Israel this month only has a capacity of 7k.

phantom_lord · 18-02-2020 6:21pm

Is there a definitive list anywhere of venue capacities?

I've copied any numbers in this thread, and added a couple. Would be interested in any corrections or additions.

The Big Romance: 120
Bello Bar: 200
Lost Lane: 200
The Sound House: 250
The Grand Social: 250
The Sugar Club: 350
Tengu: 250 main room (400 two floors)
Whelans: 450 (upstairs 120)
The Academy: 600
Voodoo lounge/Index/39/40: 600
Button factory: 800
Academy 1: 850
Academy green room: 550
Academy 2: 230
Vicar street: 1,050 (seated) 1,500 (standing)
National Concert Hall: 1,200
District 8: 1500
Olympia: 1302 (seating) 1621 (standing)
Bord Gáis Energy Theatre: 2,111
Iveagh Gardens: 4,000
Royal Hospital Kilmainham: 10,000
3: 13,000
RDS: 16,500 40,000
Marlay Park: 40,000
Croke Park: 80,000
Slane 80,000

The Nal · 18-02-2020 6:25pm

The gap between the Olympia and the 3 is criminal.

Thrashssacre · 18-02-2020 7:56pm

Im noticing its stating to push up prices of acts playing the academy/vicar Street and olympia as the bands are doing 2-5k venues on the rest of the tour and just hiking an extra 10-15 quid on the ticket price here to cover for the lack of capacity, that's if they bother coming at all.

rubadub · 18-02-2020 8:45pm

phantom_lord wrote: »

Whelans: 450
District 8: 1500

whelans upstairs is 120 according to their site

http://www.whelanslive.com/index.php/production/upstairs-venue/

district 8 sounded high, but I can see its a new venue in Airside in Swords, not the one I was thinking of which I now remember closed.

On Slanes wiki page it says

As many as 70,000–110,000 people usually attend

Their own site says

Slane Castle hosts many high profile events, from its famous Summer Concerts with a capacity of 80,000 people,

And the wiki page also lists 80,000 for some sold out gigs so I would go with that. If there was a 110,000 gig it might not be allowed these days.

RDS 18,500
16,500 seated
but that could be for games. Says Record attendance 22,000 (38,000 for a concert)

the 38k was radiohead in 1997, but then wiki says Tina Turner had 40k in 2000

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RDS_Arena

and "Bon Jovi have played the venue many times. They played over two nights in June 2011 to over 80,000 people"

So I would go 40,000

Fanirish · 18-02-2020 11:54pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Im noticing its stating to push up prices of acts playing the academy/vicar Street and olympia as the bands are doing 2-5k venues on the rest of the tour and just hiking an extra 10-15 quid on the ticket price here to cover for the lack of capacity, that's if they bother coming at all.

Tbh the ticket prices are being pushed up as the stage design for those acts has increased significantly in the last 2 years. Bands playing 700-1400 capacity are now expected by the fans to have a decent light and stage design set up. The days of a cloth with the bands logo are truly over

Fanirish · 19-02-2020 12:14am

And also simply there is not 200 plus acts a year who would sell 3000-5000 tickets in Dublin to justify such a building. Even the olympia and vicar devote 1/3 or 1/4 of their schedule to theatre or comedy respectively

PTH2009 · 19-02-2020 1:30am

How would Dublin rate daily/nightly on entertainment compared to other major cities ???

80% of the time you would find a gig/play/comedy etc that would interest you if you had a night in Dublin

Venue capacity

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