Lloyd Center concert venue says construction will begin next month

When organizers revealed on Tuesday that they would begin construction at the Lloyd Center mall in June, the competition to create a new concert venue in Portland hit a new level.

Together, Portland-based Monqui Presents and international live events firm AEG Presents plan to open their 68,000-square-foot venue, which can accommodate 2,000–4,250 concertgoers, in a former Nordstrom on Northeast Multnomah Street in early 2027.

That is a little later than rival Live Nation’s most recent projected launch date. Live Nation is collaborating with Colas Development Group and Beam Development to build a performance venue that can hold 3,500 people in the Central Eastside sometime in 2026.

Both seek to provide a medium-sized performance space to a city that lacks alternatives between arena-show settings like Moda Center and theater rooms that can accommodate hundreds of people.

While project difficulties are common and may cause delays, Mike Quinn, the founder of Monqui Presents, stated in a press release that his work is moving quickly.

According to Quinn, the light at the end of the Lloyd venue tunnel simply became closer and brighter.

Last Monday, project managers submitted building permits to the city of Portland to create the two-story event space and tear down a skybridge that links the mall to a nearby office tower. Supporters pointed out that the location is under the city’s CX zoning, which allowed this kind of commercial and mixed-use construction without the need for special use licenses or zoning modifications.

That seemed to be a reference to Live Nation’s difficulties last year, when its supporters were forced to request a conditional land-use decision due to their construction in an industrial area on Southeast Water Avenue between Salmon and Main streets.

After an appeal, the Live Nation team won that judgment from the city. However, opponents have brought a case before the statewide tribunal, the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, which has not yet rendered a ruling.

The cost of the project was not disclosed in the AEG press release, and when contacted via email, a spokesman did not reply.

Don Strasburg, president of AEG’s Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest division, stated in the announcement that Portland is a very amazing city. In order to provide alternatives for local, regional, and national musicians that are currently unavailable, our location seamlessly integrates into the thriving music environment. Prepare yourself; we can’t wait.

–Jonathan Bach covers real estate and housing. You can contact him by phone at 503-221-4303 or by email at jbach@oregonian.com.

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