On May 31, 2022 after a Brit Floyd tribute concert to Pink Floyd, the Fillmore Miami Beach said it would be closing for a year. Construction for a giant hotel began next door and Live Nation, the owner of the Fillmore Miami Beach, said they would use the year to renovate the loading dock and rear entry spaces of the concert venue.
It was a bummer South Florida would go a year without the Fillmore. The 2500 capacity theater is pretty much the only venue around that can host midsize acts, too niche for arenas, but too big for Gramps or Understory. Over the years it has hosted everyone from Lizzo to New Order from Janelle Monae to Slayer. But if the COVID pandemic taught us anything it’s that we can survive a year without concerts.
The one year anniversary of when the Fillmore’s closure began came and went last week. There are still no concerts scheduled on the Fillmore’s calendar. Construction projects often take longer than scheduled, but recent reporting by Miami Today hints that Fillmore Miami Beach won’t open any time soon, if ever again.
In the article written by Monica Correa it is reported that Live Nation Entertainment proposed to Miami Beach’s finance committee that they, “raze the landmark Jackie Gleason Theater and build a new venue closer to Washington Avenue that Live Nation would run on a 20-year lease. The finance committee voted to have the city commission examine the proposal and its potential funding opportunities.”
The article also states that Live Nation wants others to foot the majority of the $70 million dollar bill for construction of a new concert hall.
The theater first opened in 1957 and was where many television variety shows were filmed including the Ed Sullivan Show, Dick Clark Show, and most famously the Jackie Gleason Show from which the Jackie Gleason Theater took its name. In 2007 Live Nation took over operating the theater and rebranded it as The Fillmore.
Miami Beach commissioners have sought to tear down the theater as far back as 2017.
