Got a tip? Send it our way
Share your music news — big or small — with the Austin360.com team by sending us an e-mail.
Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > October > 22 > Entry
New ACL venue to be called Moody Theater
The Moody Foundation of Galveston has granted $2.5 million to KLRU, the largest single gift ever received by the PBS station, to help equip the new home of “Austin City Limits” on Second Street downtown with high-definition production equipment.
In recognition, the new venue, expected to be completed in December 2010, will be called Moody Theater. The new theater/studio will hold 2,750 fans, up from the current capacity of 320, and will host an estimated 120 shows a year in addition to the “ACL” tapings. KLRU will get 45 days a year, rent-free, to produce each season of the longest-running music series in American television history.
“Austin City Limits” will tape its 36th season next year at the current location on the University of Texas campus, then move to the new Moody Theater in early 2011.
” ‘Austin City Limits’ put Austin on the map as the live music capital of the world,” said Ross Moody, 47, a KLRU board member and trustee of the Moody Foundation. “The program is known throughout the world and is an important part of the economic development and success of the city.”
Moody said KLRU approached him early this year, “but it was a welcome approach. It’s a great opportunity for the foundation to step up to the plate and kick off this $6.5 million fundraising campaign.”
Moody said the grant is the largest the foundation has given in Austin, where he has lived since 1991. KLRU is seeking money to purchase and install HD production equipment in the new venue.
The owners of Moody Theater, including Willie Nelson (who filmed the “ACL” pilot 35 years ago), developer Stratus Properties Inc. and the Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds, will pay the $40 million construction costs of the new theater/studio. The new home for “ACL” is part of a development that includes a W Hotel, luxury condominiums and retail space, as well as restaurant and office space. KLRU will provide the production and film equipment needed to record “ACL” programs.
Stratus on Wednesday closed on a new $120 million construction loan for the W project made by Beal Bank Nevada, replacing financing from the original construction lender, Corus Bank. Chicago-based Corus was seized by federal regulators last month.
Stratus said the new loan will allow the $300 million project to be completed as scheduled.
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.
By pd
October 22, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this
Wow, I am very surprised there has been no public outcry (since the beginning) about moving ACL from a 420 person capacity to a 2,700 person capacity.
Not to mention it will be in the most fabricated part of town, at the bottom of a luxury (chain) hotel.
By Broadway
October 22, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this
Expect confusion to ensue between this Moody Theater and the long-time Moody Northen Theatre at St. Eds. BTW— KLRU says you have to subtract the value of the premiums they give you when you claim your donation to the station as a writeoff. Does Moody have to subtract the value of having their name on the theatre from their donation?
By brett b
October 22, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this
how wonders. can’t wait to attend events at the new location. wonder how tickets will be distributed moving forward?
cheers, bb
By Melanie
October 22, 2009 12:03 PM | Link to this
What a generous gift from the Moody Foundation! I enjoy KLRU and especially ACL.
By Jenni
October 22, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this
pd, have you ever tried to get into an ACL taping? Parking near campus in the afternoon and waiting outside on the roof for hours, with only a small chance of getting in? A venue that’s 6 times as big and off-campus is exactly why most people I know are looking forward to it.
By steve
October 22, 2009 12:16 PM | Link to this
2,750 is larger than Stubb’s, if I’m not mistaken.
By Dave
October 22, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this
While I think that a bigger facility is a good idea, I’m not enthused about the private donation and now being the namesake. I’d like to see Willie Nelson make a donation and would rather see the studio named after him or Stevie Ray. And better yet, can’t the new studio be put in a location that is not tied to some other big business? Finally, access to the tapings is horrendous. Hopefully the new studio will give better access to Austinites and not just the privileged few.
By maggie
October 22, 2009 3:38 PM | Link to this
The magic of the studio in the Communications building is that there is not a bad seat/view from the house. Putting 10x the people in the Moody Studios makes it available to more people but one might as well watch on TV instead and not deal with those crowds. Sad to see the intimacy leave this experience.
By Carmen
October 22, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this
Sadly, there is no outcry because Austin sold its soul a long time ago. If you have enough money in that town, anything is up for sale.
By Charles
October 22, 2009 8:13 PM | Link to this
Tickets for ACL tapings will be sold through Ticketmaster, who is going through a monopoly creating merger with Live Nation. The non ACL shows will have the standard exhorbitantly high prices and service fees that Ticketmaster charges elsewhere. Austin has been very lucky to not have Ticketmaster in our market (until ACL brings the evil beast into our town). ACL will no longer give away free beer, but they will be happy to charge you $6 for a can of Budweiser. Part of the old ACL magic was the intimate connection the artists made with 300 fans up close. The new atmosphere will be a vast theather of 2750 and new VIP sections. ACL was fun while it lasted! Enter the new…
By Franchises
October 23, 2009 12:25 AM | Link to this
KUT has a podcast interview with the Austin City Limits “Brand Manager” discussing the possibility of turning the ACL brand into a Hard Rock Cafe type concept in tourist spots all over the country. Not trying to promote another news outlet, but just giving proof that this disgusting concept is seriously being considered.
By Dave
October 23, 2009 8:53 AM | Link to this
Maybe now Austin will have a upper-midsize indoor venue that actually has decent acoustics (as opposed to the AMH). This is VERY welcome.
By AntiGripe
October 23, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this
Charles - Livenation will not be selling the tickets to ACL shows. They will still be handled by KLRU. And if you’ve seen the plans you would realize that the layout and intimacy of the original studio has been preserved in the new facility. Don’t get so upset. Focus your energies on something productive instead of suppositions and complaints.
By anonymous
October 23, 2009 4:19 PM | Link to this
This is such crap. I work under Ross and he cut our hours and bonuses to apparently fund his own desires. Way to go, Ross— your employees certainly aren’t going to see read the papers.
By austinite
October 26, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this
Anonymous, this donation has nothing to do with a private company. Obviously you are not involved in philanthropy or even understand how private foundations work. Be happy you even have a job and stop complaining about something that will be good for Austin. If we didn’t have philanthropists such as Ross, Texas would be a lesser place, and many social service and arts organizations would not be able to survive.