Live Nation Expands Global Footprint with New Venues in Portugal and South Africa

Live Nation Expands Global Footprint with New Venues in Portugal and South Africa

By Marcus Bennett

November 26, 2024 at 11:37 PM

Live Nation has announced significant venue investments in Portugal and South Africa, expanding its global entertainment footprint in 2025. The company will acquire a majority stake in Lisbon's MEO Arena and partner to create The Dome in Johannesburg.

Waterfront arena venue at night

Waterfront arena venue at night

The MEO Arena investment in Portugal includes:

  • 20,000-person capacity venue
  • Planned upgrades to premium seating, skyboxes, and facilities
  • Focus on sustainability and environmental improvements
  • History of hosting major artists like Harry Styles, Adele, and Dua Lipa

The Johannesburg Dome project features:

  • 10,500-person capacity
  • Over 6,000 square meters of multi-purpose space
  • South African design and construction
  • First permanent Live Nation venue in Africa
  • Located next to FNB Stadium in Nasrec suburb

Live Nation South Africa will handle event promotion and production, while Stadium Management South Africa will manage the facility operations. The venue aims to showcase both local and international talent while supporting pan-African artists.

These expansions come as Live Nation faces an antitrust lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding alleged monopolistic practices with Ticketmaster.

Jorge Vinha da Silva, CEO of MEO Arena, expressed excitement about the partnership: "With this deal, we want to build on the arena's reputation as a cultural destination, and we feel that Live Nation is the right strategic partner to achieve this."

Justin Van Wyk, Live Nation South Africa's CEO, emphasized The Dome's significance: "The venue will provide new opportunities to connect emerging and established artists with a new demographic of South African fans."

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