A New Theater Is Officially Coming to Fenway

Photo courtesy of DAIQ Architects

Fenway’s nightlife scene is getting an upgrade—a project that would build a new performing arts center on a property adjacent to Fenway Park’s right field has officially been approved.

The Fenway Theater will be a collaborative effort between concert promoter Live Nation and an affiliate of Red Sox ownership, and work is expected to begin after the conclusion of the Red Sox season this fall, Curbed Boston reports. Located at 12-28 Landsdowne Street, the venue will, according to the Boston Planning and Development Agency, “fill a void in the landscape of performing arts venues in the greater Boston area” through its unique size. At 5,400 seats, the theater will provide more breathing room than future neighbor House of Blues, which has 2,500 seats, but still feel more intimate than a stadium or arena.

Renderings for the project depict a splashy, triangle-shaped venue right by Fenway Park, complete with glowing signage, a marquee, and an entry canopy. The theater will stand four stories tall, topped off with an outdoor rooftop terrace. Inside, seating in the theater will be flexible, in order to tailor to the needs of each show.

According to project officials, the Fenway Theater will not only benefit music lovers, but the neighboring community and local economy. Planning documents state that the theater will create 80 new full-time and 450 new part-time jobs on-site, in addition to 200 construction jobs. The theater also plans to partner with the neighboring Boston Arts Academy, BPS’s arts-themed high school located in Fenway, through a five-year donation, an internship program with students, a ticket discount, and theater access for educational purposes.

Some of the sweetest news? While neighbors of the project might have to put up with some construction noise and detours, they’ll reap the rewards in the long run—residents of Fenway, Kenmore, and Audubon will be able to purchase discounted tickets for up to five events each year.