Inside look: Citizens Live at The Wylie
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Even the seats at the back of the balcony provide an intimate view. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
Pittsburgh's newest music venue is nearly complete and will be ready for its Oct. 1 opening date, officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Citizens Live at The Wylie adds another piece to the redevelopment of the Lower Hill decades after the neighborhood was demolished in the name of urban renewal.
The latest: Live Nation gave Axios a hard-hat tour of the 98,500-square-foot venue located next to PPG Paints Arena in the Hill District on Tuesday.
The vibe: Guests are greeted by a massive 38-step grand staircase, which will be flanked by photographs from Charles "Teenie" Harris, whose acclaimed work documented Black life during the Hill District's heyday.
- At the top of the staircase is a hall and bar that will rest underneath an upside-down, glimmering piano, a nod to the famous mirrored piano at the former Crawford Grill in the Hill.
By the numbers: The new venue will have 4,000 seats across the general admission ground floor and a balcony with rows of seats and space for tables.
- There are seven bars in the venue, including a rooftop deck overlooking the FNB Financial Center and the rest of the Pittsburgh skyline.
Zoom in: Wall features at the bars showcase palm trees and tropical plants, an intentional nod to art hanging at the Crawford Grille and one of several design nods to the Hill District.
Between the lines: The balcony reaches as close as 40 feet from the large stage, and feels practically on top of it.
- The worst seat in the house at the back of the balcony seats is still just about 124 feet from the stage.
What they're saying: "There is not a bad sightline in the balcony," said Tom Loudermilk, Western Pennsylvania president for Live Nation.
- "We wanted to ensure that you can be in the farthest seat from the stage and still see the facial expressions on the artist's face," said Live Nation design manager Sara Silvestri.
State of play: Live Nation is hiring 350 workers with wages starting at $20 an hour.
- A hiring fair is scheduled for Aug. 14-16 at the nearby DoubleTree hotel, according to officials. Aug. 14 is for Hill District residents and the next two days are open to everyone.
The bottom line: Silvestri said it was important to pay homage to the area's history.
- "It was important for us to build something with soul," she said.
What's next: Indie-pop sensation ROLE MODEL plays Oct. 1, followed by hometown favorite Wiz Khalifa on Oct. 2.