Seattle’s SODO Neighborhood Is Getting a New 5,500-Capacity Music Venue

Seattle’s live music scene is getting a major new room.

Live Nation and Seattle’s First Avenue Entertainment have unveiled plans for a new 5,500-capacity indoor music venue in the city’s SODO neighborhood, with the purpose-built concert hall targeted to open in 2029. The venue will be located at The Boxyard, directly across from T-Mobile Park and just steps from Lumen Field, placing it in the heart of one of Seattle’s busiest sports and entertainment districts.

Designed to fill the gap between theaters and arenas, the new space is being built for artists on the rise — the kind of acts that have outgrown smaller rooms but are not yet playing full-scale arenas. The venue will feature flexible staging, advanced production infrastructure, and artist-focused amenities aimed at meeting the demands of modern touring.

Blueprint Studio, Live Nation’s in-house design and development group, is leading the design in partnership with LMN Architects. The concept blends “old-world craftsmanship” with current concert technology, using materials like brick, wood, and glass to create a venue inspired by a classic Main Street gathering place.

The project will also be integrated with Victory Hall, which will serve as a flexible venue lobby and special events space, with potential programming and activations tied to game days. Alongside concerts, the venue is expected to host a broader range of live entertainment events throughout the year.

Live Nation and First Avenue Entertainment are positioning the project as both a cultural investment and an economic driver for Seattle. According to an independent Oxford Economics analysis cited in the announcement, the venue is expected to generate $70 million in annual fan spending at local restaurants, hotels, and shops, produce $12 million in tax revenue, support more than 700 new jobs, and create a total regional economic impact of $129 million each year.

“Seattle has helped shape the sound of modern music, launching artists who have influenced culture worldwide,” said Jeff Trisler, Regional President, Pacific Northwest, Live Nation. “This new purpose-built venue is an investment in continuing that legacy. We are enhancing the city’s ability to attract even more major tours to the Pacific Northwest while supporting the next generation of performers as they grow.”

Trevor Gooby, who oversees The Boxyard property for First Avenue Entertainment, said the project builds on SODO’s identity as a hub for sports and entertainment.

“This project builds on that foundation and creates new opportunities for fans, artists and local businesses year-round,” Gooby said. “We’re committed to working to ensure this venue reflects the neighborhood’s character and contributes to its continued growth while providing opportunities for both musicians and local music fans.”

The announcement also received support from Seattle business and port leaders, with Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Nguyen calling the venue “another important space for artists and audiences,” while Port of Seattle Commission President Ryan Calkins emphasized the importance of continued coordination around freight mobility, the working waterfront, and industrial jobs.

For Seattle fans, the planned SODO venue could mean more touring acts, more year-round events, and a new destination built specifically for the sweet spot between intimate shows and arena-sized spectacle.