New Bentonville music venue in the works
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A rendering shows the proposed Bentonville Ballroom. Rendering courtesy of Live Nation.
Live Nation plans to open a new music and event venue on The Momentary's Bentonville campus in 2028, the California-based entertainment company confirmed to Axios.
Why it matters: The Bentonville Ballroom will add a mid-size performance space option to Northwest Arkansas' arts and culture scene with a capacity of 2,500.
How it works: The Momentary and Live Nation are collaborating on the project after The Momentary "invited Live Nation to the neighborhood to help grow Bentonville as a hub for arts and music," Anthony Nicolaidis, Live Nation's Arkansas market president, told Axios in an email through a spokesperson.
- Live Nation will independently construct and operate the venue, including ticketing, programming and booking.
- The proposed site is just south of The Momentary. The Bentonville Planning Commission recently unanimously approved development plans.
- In addition to touring acts and local performances, the space will be available for private and corporate events, according to a news release.
Context: The Momentary opened in 2020 as a sister organization to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Although The Momentary regularly has art exhibitions on display, it largely focuses on events like festivals and concerts both indoors and at its outdoor space, The Momentary Green, that has capacity for 5,000 attendees.
- "The vision is to grow the live music scene in Northwest Arkansas by adding an indoor venue that complements other performance spaces, including the Momentary Green," Nicolaidis said.
Zoom in: Early concepts for the space feature warm wood tones "and a layout that brings the Ozarks' textures and light into the performance space," according to a news release.
- "The Bentonville Ballroom will be a beautiful new cultural landmark. We're happy to invite Live Nation to our campus. Their experience connecting artists and fans will accelerate our city's momentum with year-round, quality music experiences for residents and visitors," Tom Walton, chair of the Momentary Council, said in the release.
What's next: Live Nation will continue working through the permitting process with city officials, Nicolaidis said.