The Bowery Presents is has announced its plans for a new venue, Racket, set to open in 2023 in the 650-capacity space in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood formerly occupied by Highline Ballroom.
The AEG Presents-owned promoter announced its plans for Racket—as in “making a racket,” not “tennis racket”—on Thursday. Per a press release, “An upstairs hideaway in a bustling area of Chelsea, the 650-capacity refreshed general admission venue—located across the street from Chelsea Market at 431 West 16th Street—will be The Bowery Presents’ most intimate venue in Manhattan and will serve as an important linchpin in the company’s ecosystem of artist development.”
“We are excited to welcome Racket to The Bowery Presents family. Racket is very much the sister venue to Music Hall of Williamsburg: a fundamental building block for us in Manhattan, and an important addition to Bowery’s commitment to both artist development and amazing experiences for our fans and partners,” said The Bowery Presents founder John Moore and his partner Jim Glancy in a joint statement.
Racket will further expand Bowery’s extensive venue ownership and booking footprint across New York City, joining Music Hall of Williamsburg (650 capacity), Webster Hall (1,350 capacity), Brooklyn Steel (1,800 capacity), Terminal 5 (3,000 capacity), and Forest Hills Stadium (13,000 capacity). The company also books and promotes hundreds of concerts in theaters, parks, and arenas in the region.
In addition to rebuilding a notable mid-sized rung on the Manhattan venue ladder, Racket revive a space that was once central to the city’s vibrant music scene as Highline Ballroom, which closed in early 2019 when its lease on the space was not renewed. The Roots, who played numerous shows at the venue through the years, helped close down Highline Ballroom with one final performance.
Racket’s opening lineup will be announced in the coming weeks. Follow the venue on social media @racketnewyork or head to the Racket website for more information.
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