OCVIBE Concert Hall preview tour (photos)
Photo credit: Terrance Pryor/MP3s and NPCs
OCVIBE will bring a major music venue to Anaheim next year.
Last week, a select group of media, music industry folk, and partners got to traverse through the 5,000 capacity concert hall, which will be the first for Orange County. Located near the Honda Center, the establishment features something unique for a concert venue: a mature Arbutus 'Marina' tree. Outside of the private backstage area lies a massive tree offering a special view for artists as they get ready to hit the stage. Jim Tracy, CEO of Park West, OCVIBE’s landscape operations partner said this about the tree:
“When the OCVIBE design team shared their vision for incorporating this incredible feature into the concert hall, we saw an opportunity to help bring something truly unique to life. The incorporation of the Arbutus 'Marina' tree into the artist area reflects OCVIBE’s broader commitment to creating a landscape that feels authentic to the destination and connected to the experiences guests and artists will have throughout the district.”
Aside from the backstage area, attendees also got to check out the main auditorium, the Gallagher Club, and Stretto Café. The concert hall was created by design firm Populous, who recently worked on Sphere in Las Vegas, Yankee Stadium, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The tour concluded with a special acoustic performance from The Early November's Ace Enders.
Tina Suca, Senior Vice President of Venue Operations for OCVIBE said this about the preview tour:
“The preview tour offered a glimpse into the level of care and planning behind every aspect of the concert hall. While construction continues, you can already see how the design, technology and guest experience are coming together to create a venue unlike anything else in Orange County.”
Eric Bresler, Senior Vice President of Entertainment for OCVIBE said this about the forthcoming venue:
“The concert hall represents an opportunity to strengthen Orange County’s role in the entertainment landscape. By creating a purpose-built venue for live music within the larger OCVIBE district, we're building an ecosystem that supports artists, attracts more performances, and continues to establish Anaheim as a standalone market for live entertainment.”
Julie Rinaldi, Principal at Populous also said:
“The OCVIBE concert hall represents a new generation of live entertainment venues designed to create an exceptional experience for audiences and artists alike. Part of the broader OCVIBE district, the concert hall seamlessly blends music, public space, and community to create a destination that will evolve with Anaheim for decades.”
Katie Pederson, Vice President of Special Events for OCVIBE said:
“The concert hall adds an entirely new dimension to OCVIBE’s venue ecosystem. Its adaptable design allows us to host everything from live entertainment to film and television productions, award shows, galas, and corporate gatherings, while complementing our existing venues to create a destination capable of bringing a wide range of experiences to life.”
Our photos from the OCVIBE Concert Hall preview tour can be seen below. OCVIBE is slated to have a phased opening in March 2027. The first phase will include the concert hall, Katella Commons (OCVIBE’s 50,000-square-foot chef-driven market hall) and The Weave (Orange County’s first mass-timber mixed-use office building). More information about OCVIBE can be found here.
Since 2009, MP3s and NPCs owner Terrance Pryor has written about music, conventions, cosplay, and video games for publications such as AXS, Examiner, Fake Walls, and Ranker. Based out of Los Angeles, the former rock concert promoter/radio host can be seen talking about rock music on AXS TV’s Music’s Greatest Mysteries and discussing music and whatever else on their Black Man Talks Rock channel on YouTube.