[BrighamYen]

I'm very eager (and a bit anxious) to see any new renderings of LA Live! to see how it caters to the pedestrian experience on Figueroa and Olympic. We all know that it takes two sides of a road to create the true urban pedestrian experience (i.e., you can't have only one side with shops and the other side a blank wall). So although it is very important for LA Live! to have retail fronting Figueroa St., it is also very important for the other side of Figueroa where the Holiday Inn and Liberty Grill now sit to be activated as well. Perhaps a public gathering spot? More retail can't hurt either.

[katfam]

The other buildings around Nokia Theatre have started going up. The ESPN Zone area has steele up to what looks like the 5th floor. I hope we can get some pictures of that later, but LA Live is really coming up now.

[edluva]

the metreon rises!

[LAsam]

Our salvation is at hand.

[colemonkee]

The other buildings around Nokia Theatre have started going up. The ESPN Zone area has steele up to what looks like the 5th floor. I hope we can get some pictures of that later, but LA Live is really coming up now.
Ask and ye shall receive. Here are some pics from Saturday, bit of a wet one...

The ESPN studios building, looking south down Figueroa.

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9724/lalive200701272ia5.jpg

Two roof trusses now on the Nokia Theater.

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/7955/lalive200701271kr6.jpg

[JRinSoCal]

^It's amazing how fast time goes by.

[bobcat]

Olevia(TM) & AEG Announce Groundbreaking Sports and Entertainment Sponsorship Agreement
31 January 2007
01:36 PM
Business Wire
English
(c) 2007 Business Wire. All Rights Reserved.

LOS ANGELES - (BUSINESS WIRE) - AEG and Syntax-Brillian Corp. (Nasdaq: BRLC), a manufacturer and marketer of LCD and LCoS(TM) HDTVs and digital entertainment products, announced details of a multi-platform marketing partnership that will feature the company's popular Olevia(TM) brand throughout a variety of AEG-owned developments, venues, franchises and other assets across the nation including L.A. Live, STAPLES Center, the Los Angeles Kings, Red Bull Park, Sprint Center, Citizen's Business Bank Arena and the Amgen Tour of California.

The far-reaching agreement, which extends through 2010 for each asset, will specifically highlight the Olevia(TM) brand of HDTVs through signage and other on-property brand exposure and include the integration of Olevia(TM) televisions and other product into public spaces at venues operated by AEG including Kansas City's Sprint Center (opening October, 2007), Los Angeles' STAPLES Center (beginning in 2008), Harrison, New Jersey's Red Bull Park (home of the MLS Red Bull New York beginning in 2008) and Ontario, California's Citizens Business Bank Arena (opening Fall, 2008).

As one of the 'exclusive' Founding Partners of each venue, Olevia(TM)'s sponsorship packages will also include large scale exterior signage, in-house LCD TV integration and use, scoreboard and concourse exposure, hospitality and other exclusive usage of entertainment spaces along with category exclusivity at each location.

While terms of the multi-million dollar agreement were not released, both parties agreed that the central component of the partnership was the sponsorship opportunities and elements which will be highlighted at L.A. Live, the highly anticipated, four million square foot development adjacent to STAPLES Center and across the street from the Los Angeles Convention Center. The $2.5 billion L.A. Live features a 54 story/1,000-room convention center 'headquarters hotel,' Club Nokia, a 2,200 capacity live music venue, a 15-screen Regal Cineplex, broadcast facilities for ESPN, along with entertainment, restaurant, residential and office space and the 7,100-seat Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live which will soon be the preferred venue for high profile entertainment programming including star studded awards shows, special events and concerts.

As one of L.A. Live's select Founding Partners, Olevia(TM) will receive unprecedented brand exposure via a number of interactive displays including newly developed advertising 'towers', exposure on a giant LED screen located within the one acre Nokia Plaza, on rotational displays outside of Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live and on fixed signs located throughout L.A. Live. Additionally, Syntax-Brillian will receive tickets to shows and events at both Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live and Club Nokia at L.A. Live for corporate hospitality use as well as additional specially designed hospitality and entertainment elements.

"This landmark agreement exemplifies Olevia's ascension to the top tier of digital entertainment brands," said Vincent Sollitto, CEO and Chairman, Syntax-Brillian. "AEG's premier venues, properties and franchises are a powerful medium for consumers to have a personal and profound experience with the Olevia brand."

The partnership will begin immediately with AEG sports properties the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race.

Olevia(TM)'s sponsorship and exposure opportunities with the Los Angeles Kings will begin with the final 29 games of the current 2006-07 season and includes radio and game night program advertising inventory, LED and dasherboard signage and hospitality elements for the NHL team. As a Founding Partner of the Amgen Tour of California, taking place February 18-25, 2007, Olevia(TM) will receive Start and Finish signage (course side and run in), :30 second commercial spots on the nightly race coverage airing on the Versus (formerly OLN) network, promotional spots and other branding elements on giant video displays at each stage finish, on-site product visibility, logo identification on promotional/collateral materials and a variety of VIP and hospitality elements. Additionally, AEG will integrate the Olevia(TM) brand of LCD HDTV's into company presentations, meeting and receptions such as the upcoming 2007 National Sports Forum (January 28-31 in Los Angeles) and AEG's pre and post-Grammy reception at STAPLES Center (February 11).

"It's very appropriate that AEG's first 'multiple property' Founding Partner agreement is also our first in the extremely relevant 'High Definition TV' category," said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG. "With Olevia(TM)'s emphasis and priority on the broadcast and presentation of live sports and entertainment and AEG's core objective on presenting and viewing live sports and entertainment in person, it seemed natural for this partnership which ultimately provides the best entertainment experience to consumers no matter where they choose to watch our events. In particular, we would like to thank Vincent Sollitto and Hope Frank of Syntax-Brillian Corporation for their commitment to AEG, our venues, our events and most of all our fans who are the ultimate winners."

In addition to the sponsorship elements for the two AEG Sports properties and five venues located within the United States, the agreement also calls for Syntax-Brillian to extend their Vivitar(R) digital camera brand at The O2, a 23,000-seat sports and entertainment arena AEG is creating in the eastern part of London along the Thames River as part of a 650,000 sq. ft. leisure and entertainment district. As an Official Partner of The O2, Vivitar(R) will enjoy category exclusivity and prominent venue signage including, permanent LED concourse signage and product display areas as well as VIP hospitality elements.

"This sponsorship with AEG creates powerful opportunities to extend the Olevia(TM) and Vivitar(R) brands into the sports and entertainment markets nationally and internationally, and to work with a partner proven to create, execute and manage compelling events, venue and franchises," said Hope Frank, Chief Marketing Officer, Syntax-Brillian.

[DJM19]

^sounds great. Im very interested in these "advertising towers"

Maybe they will put up towers ontop of the ESPN building and such, to make them look taller than they are.

[BrighamYen]

Yes, I'm absolutely obsessed over those LED-screens/signage and I am just dying to see accurate/newest renderings of LA Live. I want to see to what extent LA Live is truly going to become an entertainment destination that feels BRIGHT AND ALIVE at night. There's just no place in the US like Times Square in such a compact form. Not even Las Vegas felt as "intense" as Times Square. And I would be one happy camper if LA Live were to be on par with Times Square.

[LAsam]

^ There's always Universal Citywalk... ;)

[BrighamYen]

^ LOL uh huh sure!

[JRinSoCal]

I really doubt LA Live will be on par with Times Square. LA Live looks more like a mall and doesn't really look like it interacts well with the street. At least not in the renderings we've seen.

When you're in Times Square, you are surrounded by not only hundreds of LED screens and billboards but also by huge skyscrapers making the urban experience even more powerful and intense. Tell me what about LA Live makes you guys believe it will feel anything like Times Square? I just don't see it. Its a great project for downtown LA nevertheless but its no TS. I see it on par with maybe Hollywood and Highland (I hope that's not a bad thing)but we'll see.

[bobcat]

I found this ad at CArealestatejournal.com:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/378167152_f5d842c4c4_b.jpg

[DJM19]

cool. Thats generally the layout we saw before.

Those 6 advertisement stands must be the "advertising towers"

[colemonkee]

I really doubt LA Live will be on par with Times Square. LA Live looks more like a mall and doesn't really look like it interacts well with the street. At least not in the renderings we've seen.

When you're in Times Square, you are surrounded by not only hundreds of LED screens and billboards but also by huge skyscrapers making the urban experience even more powerful and intense. Tell me what about LA Live makes you guys believe it will feel anything like Times Square? I just don't see it. Its a great project for downtown LA nevertheless but its no TS. I see it on par with maybe Hollywood and Highland (I hope that's not a bad thing)but we'll see.
The more I look at these renderings, the more I agree. I think LA Live will feel like a flashier and more active version of Hollywood and Highland or the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Let's just hope it treats the street better than those two.

[DJM19]

I think both of those are more enclosed than LA Live appears to be. For one, you can enter LA Live on three sides (or 4 even maybe), it breaths. There is only one corrididor, and it goes in a straight line thtough it (plus the plaza that makes it more open to the street).

Its not like Time square in that this is only on one side of a major street. There needs to be more on the other side of Fig, and for more than one block.

[bobcat]

Clearly a mall will never amount to anything remotely like Times Square, but with LA Live along with the Fig Central project and possible future developments on other surrounding parcels, we could definitely see something Times Square-ish in the next 10 years or so.

[tujunga]

LA live will never be anything like Time Square because time square is an overlay concept of preexisting building with elaborate lighted displays attached to them. LA lives' light displays will be totally integrated into new buildings. If you want anything like Time Square to happen in LA it will have to happen in the older sections of down town like Broadway etc.

[DJM19]

I dont want broadway buildings to be covered up with advertisements. Interesting light designs, sure.

[Carioca]

I dont want broadway buildings to be covered up with advertisements. Interesting light designs, sure.

I think it would be fantastic it the city researched old photos of broadway, found it's most endearing era, and drew up a plan to encourage re-neoning broadway. We've GOT to looooooose all the trashy plastic signage. With the "jewelry traders" neon blade and a few of the theaters, it is easy to imagine how cool it could be at relatively low cost. Getting the roof top towers back would be next!:yes:

[edluva]

la live is the metreon on steroids. The good thing is it probably has the greatest chance of catalyzing a downtown retail boom along the lines of San Diego's Horton Plaza.

But you can never build a Times Square. Putting up a couple jumbotrons inside of Fashion Island does not make a Times Square. The closest thing LA has to TS is the intersection of Hollywood and Highland (and not the H&H complex itself). And the fact that LA Live is consciously trying to recreate faux-TS is precisely the reason TS will not occur in LA. Urbanism is too diffuse here. Hollywood wants to be TS, WeHo is trying, and now LA Live is trying, and all the while Grand Ave is trying to be Champs. So many places are trying to be something that no one place will ever fully succeed at it. How lame.

[Tanster]

I dont think L.As trying to be exactly like timesquare but their trying to get that vibe where all the action is in downtown because really, L.As downtown could be boring when all the atractions are out in the suburbs. So with L.A live it would bring people to downtown.

[ucland]

Where is the Grammy Museum going to go?

[LAMetroGuy]

Staples Singers

Sports giant AEG ramping up music, event promotion
By ANNE RILEY-KATZ

Los Angeles Business Journal Staff

Every day, AEG President and Chief Executive Tim Leiweke looks out the window of his office near the Staples Center and sees workmen and huge cranes bringing L.A. Live, the massive $2.5 billion sports, entertainment and residential complex, closer to completion,

The project – which is running over its construction budget – is expected to be the crown jewel of AEG’s sprawling sports center and is seen as a key component in the revitalization of downtown.

For AEG, it’s a clear sign that the heart and soul of Chairman Philip Anschutz’s growing sports and entertainment empire is in Los Angeles. Already the second-largest U.S. sports and live entertainment company, AEG is making a major push to expand its live theater, music and awards show staging presence in conjunction with L.A. Live’s arrival.

“This is clearly our operations hub, and it grows even more important as we get closer to the opening of L.A. Live,” said Leiweke, who is the right-hand man of the reclusive Colorado billionaire and serves as the public face of AEG. He’s been here since 1996, when he arrived to oversee construction of the Staples Center.

Today, Leiweke oversees more than 50 AEG subsidiaries, including two newly formed divisions – AEG Facilities and AEG Entertainment – with more than 4,000 employees and revenues in excess of $1 billion. Among the holdings that AEG has acquired in the past decade are pro hockey’s L.A. Kings, pro soccer’s L.A. Galaxy and a minority stake in the NBA’s Lakers. AEG also owns two independent film studios, Walden Media and Bristol Bay Productions. AEG’s Galaxy made worldwide headlines recently with its $250 million acquisition of soccer star David Beckham.

All of this growth in the sports and entertainment arm of AEG is coming as Anschutz is stepping back from Qwest Communications International, the Denver-based telecom company he founded. Anschutz resigned as a Qwest director last year, and said in a statement that he planned to focus on his other holdings that include, in addition to the sports and entertainment holdings, oil companies, railroads, newspapers and a theater chain.

In the fall, Anschutz sliced his direct holdings in the company to about 66.4 million shares, after selling and donating nearly 80 million shares. He also sold shares in June, July and October of last year. Most recently, on the day after the Beckham deal was announced, Anschutz announced that he was selling 43 million Qwest shares for $297 million.

Leiweke denied that there was a relationship between the expansion of AEG’s sports and entertainment holdings and Anschutz’s Qwest sell off.

“AEG happens to have a phenomenal chairman, but there’s nothing he has to do in his other worlds to provide capital necessary to finance our growth; nothing we are doing requires him to liquidate any assets,” Leiweke said. Nevertheless, sports and entertainment properties now represent a major portion of Anschutz’s fortune, estimated by Forbes magazine to be $7.8 billion.

While much of AEG’s focus is here, the firm has significant holdings outside of Los Angeles, including a New Jersey soccer stadium and arenas in Missouri, Berlin and London. Anschutz’ Regal Entertainment Group, based in Tennessee, is the largest motion picture exhibitor in the world, operating nearly 20 percent of all indoor screens in the U.S. (and will include the multiplex being built for L.A. Live).

Ballpark figures
AEG’s L.A. Live plans call for the 4 million-square-foot development to include 226 condominium units, an 878-room hotel operated by JW Marriott and a 123-room luxury hotel connected with Ritz-Carlton.

The project appears to be sailing along now, having conquered some hurdles along the way.

Faced with a softening real estate market, residential builder KB Home pulled out of the condo development in December, becoming the second major firm to withdraw from the project. KB came aboard last year, after original partner Lew Wolff withdrew. Despite speculation that AEG was looking for another partner, Leiweke said AEG will go it alone now.

In 2005, the city cut a deal to avoid a potentially project-stalling lawsuit over tax waivers. That allowed the nearby Westin Bonaventure Hotel, which would presumably compete with the L.A. Live hotel, to convert 400 of its existing rooms into condos.
Leiweke wouldn’t say by how much construction costs at L.A. Live were exceeding the original $750 million-plus estimate, some of which is to be offset by public financing in the form of a loan, tax incentives and fee waivers worth $300 million. But it was enough to provoke him into using a sports cliché.

“You’re never in the ballpark when it comes to construction budgets,” he said.

Battle of the bands
The primary obstacle to AEG Live’s domination of the concert and theater realm is Beverly Hills-based Live Nation Inc., which owns 170 venues and produces more than 33,000 events a year. Like AEG, the company is making moves: Last year, Live Nation acquired the famed House of Blues chain and also produced all or part of nine of the top ten grossing concert tours in the country; AEG had the remaining one (Bon Jovi).

The former Clear Channel subsidiary – spun off into a separate public company in 2005 – also booked a number of events at both Staples Center and the Forum (for which AEG is the booking agent), including concerts by Shakira, Mariah Carey and U2 as well as Cirque Du Soleil’s Delirium show.

“Live Nation is still significantly larger than AEG Live, and they made a very wise decision in acquiring the House of Blues,” said analyst David Joyce of Miller Tabak & Co. “At the core, live entertainment boils down to artist relationships, and Live Nation has made a lot of headway in the last year by teaming up with people who have strong established relationships with huge acts like the Rolling Stones.”

Leiweke conceded that Live Nation dominates that market, but stressed that amassing top-tier venues in select markets, rather than a large quantity scattered across the nation, is the company’s goal.

“They are the big beasts in the amphitheater business, so we stay out of their way,” Leiweke said. “We are an arena-theater-club business.”
The companies’ strategies also differ – while Live Nation snapped up most of its considerable assets through acquisition, AEG Live has chosen to build its base from the ground up, incorporating technology to allow high definition broadcast and Internet content feeds from various arenas. The goal is to make AEG a content-and-distribution player in short order, according to Leiweke, and create its own network.

“An acquisition strategy makes it easier for Live Nation to get into the market quicker, but the advantage of building is it can tailor to your needs, even on the level of infrastructure,” said David Kestenbaum, an analyst who covers Live Nation for Morgan Joseph.


Kudos clout
AEG may have an easier time dominating the awards realm.

Last year, AEG acquired Champions on Ice, Bounce Event Marketing and Ken Ehrlich Productions, and brought the kudos impresario himself into the company.

Ehrlich is the man behind the Grammys, the Emmys, the Blockbuster Awards, the Alma Awards, the Latin Grammys and the MTV Movie Awards.
Combined with L.A. Live’s construction, the acquisition should make AEG a formidable player in the awards arena. The only major awards show locked into a long-term venue contract is the Academy Awards ceremony at the Kodak Theater, so there is potential to host everything from the Emmys to ESPN’s ESPYs. The Nokia Theater already has 150 events booked for its first year, Leiweke said.

AEG has forged other significant entertainment partnerships as well. SBE Entertainment – nightlife kingpin Sam Nazarian’s company – is going to install a club as an anchor tenant at the development. Nazarian is known for his ability to create exclusive hot spots, a touch that Leiweke said – along with the 226 ultra-luxury condos atop the Ritz-Carlton hotel – would make L.A. Live a draw for the high-end set.

“We (at AEG) don’t go out to nightclubs,” said Leiweke smiling, “but for those that do, Sammy is the best in the business.”

[LongBeachUrbanist]

The Nokia Theater already has 150 events booked for its first year, Leiweke said.

That's freakin' impressive. Hopefully construction will complete in time so that nobody will have to cancel.

The primary obstacle to AEG Live’s domination of the concert and theater realm is Beverly Hills-based Live Nation Inc., which owns 170 venues and produces more than 33,000 events a year. Like AEG, the company is making moves: Last year, Live Nation acquired the famed House of Blues chain and also produced all or part of nine of the top ten grossing concert tours in the country; AEG had the remaining one (Bon Jovi).

I'd like to see this 'Live Nation' build a competing venue somewhere on the other side of Figueroa. Maybe a House Of Blues. Imagine having huge competing entertainment complexes on either side of Figueroa! That would be sweet! :upload_71700:

[LAMetroGuy]

Yeah, I would also like it if Live Nation took over all the Broadway theaters and made that area into a BETTER version of 42nd Street!

[citywatch]

I'm sure the self esteem & egos of New Yawkers need to be inflated all the time by ppl elsewhere, here in LA, for example, who often use the hoods or devlpt of NYC as the ideal template or place to emulate. I know I sometimes do that too, but that's also the reason I don't like outsiders seeing the posts here. A New yorker running into a thread like this would be comparable to a big headed brother or sister overhearing mom or dad talking about him or her by saying "you should be more like your sibling....so successful, popular, good looking...he/she always was my favorite!"

Getting back to whether LA Live will be like Times Sq or not. It probably won't be, but it doesn't have to be. I just want to see it do well enough in its own right, meaning I want to see it be popular enough to hold its own against similar projs elsewhere, inc Citywalk, the Grove, the new Disney devlpt in anaheim, or the various big burban malls or gathering spots, inc OT pasadena or SaMo's 3rd St Promenade.

[LAMetroGuy]

My comment re 42nd street was more in reference to a theater district... since LA's Broadway contains the largest concentration of pre WWII theater palaces... I think it really would be, if properly planned and executed, better than NY's 42nd street... better in terms of more historic theaters. A little competition is a good thing!

[tujunga]

I'm sure the self esteem & egos of New Yawkers need to be inflated all the time by ppl elsewhere, here in LA, for example, who often use the hoods or devlpt of NYC as the ideal template or place to emulate. I know I sometimes do that too, but that's also the reason I don't like outsiders seeing the posts here. A New yorker running into a thread like this would be comparable to a big headed brother or sister overhearing mom or dad talking about him or her by saying "you should be more like your sibling....so successful, popular, good looking...he/she always was my favorite!"

Getting back to whether LA Live will be like Times Sq or not. It probably won't be, but it doesn't have to be. I just want to see it do well enough in its own right, meaning I want to see it be popular enough to hold its own against similar projs elsewhere, inc Citywalk, the Grove, the new Disney devlpt in anaheim, or the various big burban malls or gathering spots, inc OT pasadena or SaMo's 3rd St Promenade.

LA is the ultimate in diversity so is Las Vegas but in a playful way. Los Angels is more serious with it's diversity. Having a bit of Time Square in LA is ok by me. I'm sure if palm trees could survive the cold they would be lining the streets of New York. LA is a city built on a playground of natural beauty. We can have a little bit of New York in LA but they can't have a little bit of LA in NY.

[ocman]

Why do we care to have a Times Square in LA? The real thing ain't all that. It's one of the less interesting attractions of NYC.

[bobcat]

I think the idea isn't to have a carbon copy of Times Square but more to have a similar type of focal point for the city of LA, particularly one that's actually located within the city's boundaries. Right now the only thing within LA city that might compare is Hollywood and Highland, but LA Live and its environs have the potential to be so much more than that.

[Damien]

Instead of viewing ourselves in the light of other city's successes, we just focus on reviving and creating our own? 7th/Broadway used to be the center of this city - filled with activity and clubs and theaters and street cars. Bring that back - bring the theaters back, couple it with residential/hotel occupancy in the vacant historic buildings and the arts galleries on Main and we'll provide a unique experience enjoyable to Angelinos and unforgettable to tourists.

Stop selling our great city short. We don't need to look to other cities with their flashy billboards, and we don't have to build expensive new skyscrapers with way too much parking for success. We just have to return to our core - our Historic Core.

And I second the Metreon on steroids comment.

[Tanster]

If anything the best place to for downtowns main entertianment area would be broadway everything is already there.

[luckyeight]

Can anyone post the the link for L.A. Live Ritz Carlton hotel website. Saw it
tonight on a billboard atop Nokia's exterior wall across from Staples.....Thanx

:banana: :banana: :banana:

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

was it this?

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/corporate/real_estate/sections/los_angeles.asp

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

a great two days. First we hear rumblings that Concerto is back as two towers, now Grand Ave gets the green light, and Zev is fighting for Downtown LA? has hell frozen over? lol. next thing you know, is we will get a devloper to announce a 100 story mixed use for the site on 8th and fig :)

On a side note, how many high end hotels are being built in LA right now?

Ritz - Downtown LA
Marriott - Downtown LA
Mandarin - Downtown LA
Gansevoort - Downtown LA
W - Hollywood
W - Hollywood (Sunset Strip?)
Waldorf Astoria - Beverly Hills
Montage - Beverly Hills

thats pretty damn impressive
any others? room counts?

[bobcat]

There's also this one:

http://www.ritzcarltonrealestate.com/residences/locations/losangeles.jsp

[luckyeight]

There's also this one:

http://www.ritzcarltonrealestate.com/residences/locations/losangeles.jsp


thanks for the link......there's another one like ???????access.com

:banana: :banana: :banana:

[edluva]

and when is gansevoort going up? or is it even?

[colemonkee]

^ Technically Gansevoort is already "up", but no one knows the timetable for the renovation, or if it's even still a go.

[BrighamYen]

Someone call Michael Achenbaum over in NYC! :) (He's the owner of the hotel)

[citywatch]

I'm guessing the owner of the Gansevoort proj would have alot more faith in restoring & opening the old Embassy hotel bldg if projs like Astani's Opus condo/apt bldgs south of the Brockman & Coulter bldgs, & Titan's twin towers near Olympic & Grand were also under construction, or, better yet, already completed.

Sure would be nice to finally tie up all these loose strings. I mean even the Brockman condo proj hasn't been finished yet! Or the coulter-mandell bldg!

And is it too much of a stretch right now to assume that work on Concerto really is underway?

Let's get movin, ppl!

[BrighamYen]

Thought I'd post the INTEREST LIST for LA Live here as well:

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5552/interestlistlalivebp8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://allaccessliving.com/



I think the "at LA Live" part really works. It doesn't feel like a cheap area or anything. It can pass for classy and I like that! In fact, I am guessing that LA Live may become an actual bona fide district. It may very well take a chunk out of South Park in the future and be officially designated as "LA Live."

[LongBeachUrbanist]

I've always thought that area would be called "Staples Center". That would be similar to Times Square, which is also a location named after a company.

But who knows, 20 years from now they may call it "the L.A. Live District".

[funhaus]

A couple photos of the Staples Center & LA Live with crowds for today's LA marathon. Gives one a feeling for the scale of the ESPN building.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h61/11jp/dtla/IMG_1243.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h61/11jp/dtla/IMG_1246.jpg

[ThreeHundred]

^ Lord have mercy at the speed of the ESPN building!! Praise Jesus that it's rising so fast!!

[LAsam]

Wow, I haven't seen a religious nut like that since I moved out to LA! Guess you just can't escape them...

Did you manage any photos showing the progress of The Nokia? ESPN is looking MASSIVE :)

[colemonkee]

Did you manage any photos showing the progress of The Nokia? ESPN is looking MASSIVE :)
Actually, if you look at funhaus' first photo, the Nokia Theater is in the background (to the right of ESPN). You can see the workings of the facade (the grey and yellow panels) and the roof slowly closing in on the opening in the middle. As for the building that will house Club Nokia (on Olympic and Figueroa), that has yet to start.

And while ESPN is quite tall for a 5-story building - most of which is due to the high broadcast studio levels - it's relatively small in the big picture of downtown.

[BrighamYen]

^ Yeah, the ESPN studio looks about twice the height of a typical 5-story building, at about 10-12 stories tall.

[JRinSoCal]

'Staples Center District' sounds better than the 'LA Live District' I think.

[LA21st]

Why do we care to have a Times Square in LA? The real thing ain't all that. It's one of the less interesting attractions of NYC.

Agreed. I wasnt impressed.There isnt anything to do. Sure you walk near the billboards, but that gets EXTREMELY BORING. The restaurants suck, the retail sucks. It mostly just a bunch of tourists from Anytown USA. Big deal.

[funhaus]

Did you manage any photos showing the progress of The Nokia? ESPN is looking MASSIVE :)

LAsam, I walked around the Staples Center again today and snapped these. It's a different vantage point showing the Nokia Theater as seen from the west side of the Staples Center looking towards the downtown core.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h61/11jp/dtla/nokia_small.jpg (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h61/11jp/dtla/nokia-1.jpg)

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h61/11jp/dtla/ritz.jpg

[BrighamYen]

I can't wait to see the facade installed and completed on the Nokia Theatre to give us a very solid feeling about what the rest of LA Live will look like (assuming most of the buildings will use the same materials and theme).

[LAsam]

Wow, if only our freeway projects could move as fast as LA Live is! They're really moving along quickly! Thanks funhaus :)

[colemonkee]

Nice pano, funhaus!! :cheers:

Looks like they're starting to install facade framing on the south side too. I wonder how they'll install the roof struts in the middle, where the crane is sticking out. Will they have to remove the crane first?

[funhaus]

Nice pano, funhaus!! :cheers:

Thanks, colemonkee! I framed the composition with danparker in mind (allowing 1100 Wilshire to peek out on the left side).

I was wondering about that central crane as well. I'd love to see a time lapse of the whole project to appreciate the choreography of all the elements.

[Steve2726]

I'd love to see a time lapse of the whole project to appreciate the choreography of all the elements.

Voila-

http://www.seemyla.com/meetingpro/lalive_faster.wmv

It needs to be updated but it give a pretty good look.

[funhaus]

Voila-

http://www.seemyla.com/meetingpro/lalive_faster.wmv

It needs to be updated but it give a pretty good look.

WOW - how cool is that?! Thanks, Steve2726!

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

i wonder how many times my Jeep showed up in that movie.

[danparker276]

Thanks, colemonkee! I framed the composition with danparker in mind (allowing 1100 Wilshire to peek out on the left side).

I was wondering about that central crane as well. I'd love to see a time lapse of the whole project to appreciate the choreography of all the elements.

Gotta enjoy it while it lasts. I'm going to be out of view, hopefully next year.

[colemonkee]

i wonder how many times my Jeep showed up in that movie.
I counted at least seventeen times ;)

Steve, words can't describe that time lapse. Should've... sent... a poet.

[Steve2726]

I counted at least seventeen times ;)

Steve, words can't describe that time lapse. Should've... sent... a poet.

I bet that camera is available in realtime somewhere. Anyone have any idea how to hack that link?:sly:

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Just came back from the area and they had a new crane laid out on Chick Hearn Court. i wonder what its for ?!?!?!

[LAMetroGuy]

maybe for the Ritz? Lets cross our fingers :tup:

[colemonkee]

It's not for the Ritz. There was a new red crane up between Staples and the ESPN building this morning (a truck crane similar to the one current inside the Nokia Theater, not a tower crane). I'm assuming that's the one LASF was talking about. So nothing at the Ritz site just yet.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

no, the one i was talking about was a yellow crane, and a tower crane. well see soon enough.

[colemonkee]

Okay, that's good to hear. I didn't see a new yellow crane this morning, but I'll know what to look for on my way home from work tonight. [Crossing fingers]

In any case, there was a new red truck crane on Chick Hearn Ct. this morning, which wasn't there before.

[citywatch]

^ I guess once formal construction begins on LA Live's hotel, that would signify work on the tallest new bldg not just in DT, but in all of all LA, since the early 1990s. It certainly would be the tallest tower to break ground in DT itself since Cal Plaza II (or the Gas tower?) was completed.

I believe the Concerto condo tower so far represents the tallest new bldg to be underway in the hood in over 12 or more yrs. However, when it comes to LA overall, I don't know how Concerto ranks next to other projs completed in Century city & on Wilshire Blvd in westwood. And as with the LA Live's new hotel, no one is really sure as of today if Astani's proj should be currently listed as under active devlpt.

[colemonkee]

^ Well, Meruelo's tower right across the street, at 37 stories and currently under construction, should be much taller than Concerto. As for LA as a whole, One MGM Place in Century City is the tallest building completed in the last 7 years.

On the LA Live tip, I got a better look driving by this morning at the crane situation. The red "truck" crane I talked about yesterday is actually a yellow "truck" crane. This morning it was being used to do one of three things:

1. Dismantle the tall(est) yellow tower crane coming out of the ESPN Building
2. Considerably lower the tall(est) yellow tower crane
3. Install a new, shorter, yellow tower crane

I couldn't tell for sure because I had to pay attention to traffic, but the largest crane has definitely been lowered, and the tower crane that was there appeared to be in some state of assembly/disassembly (the front half of the crane arm was missing).

Now, do you guys remember the article about a year and a half ago where they interviewed the crane operator at LA Live? IIRC, it was the guy who operated the tallest crane, who said that he would be operating the hotel tower crane once they started on that. Perhaps - and this is pure conjecture at this point - they are preparing to move his rig over to the hotel site.

[colemonkee]

I drove by the site this morning and can verify that they are in fact dismantling the tall tower crane above the ESPN building. As of 8:00 am this morning the arm, cab and half the tower were already down. They have a smaller yellow crane dismantling the tower crane that looks large enough to complete construction of the ESPN building.

Now the question is, what are they going to do with that larger crane?

[LAMetroGuy]

Marriott brands go live in L.A.


Mar 19, 2007
By: Stephanie Ricca
Hotel & Motel Management


David Marriott, senior v.p. of sales, compared the L.A. Live district to New York's Times Square.

Capitalizing on the growth and development wave hitting Los Angeles, Marriott International showcased its upcoming involvement in the L.A. Live sports and entertainment district at January's Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

The mixed-use development will cover six blocks and a projected 4 million square feet adjacent to Staples Center and across the street from the Los Angeles Convention Center. Nicknamed "the Times Square of the West" by developers, the district will include retail, office space, restaurants, theaters and two Marriott hotels. The project is under development by Los Angeles-based AEG, owner of the Staples Center.

Groundbreaking is under way, and Marriott projects the hotels to open by March 2010. According to Alison Cumberland, v.p. hotel development for Marriott International, the development will include an 877-room J.W. Marriott, a 124-room Ritz-Carlton and 224 residences at the Ritz-Carlton developed by AEG and KB Urban.

Plans include Nokia Theatre Los Angeles, ESPN television and radio broadcast studios and a Regal cinema, along with several restaurants and entertainment venues.

Speaking from a patio overlooking the L.A. Live development site, David Marriott, senior v.p. of sales for Marriott International, invoked the project's comparison to the company's landmark Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

"That was the springboard that brought that area of New York City back," he said. "We see the same thing happening here in Los Angeles."

Lisa Herzlich, AEG senior v.p. and managing director for L.A. Live, outlined development goals and lauded Marriott for its innovation.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Alright, let the countdown begin, 155 weeks to go!

[citywatch]

Groundbreaking is under way, and Marriott projects the hotels to open by March 2010.
Since most large projs take around 2 yrs to build (the Empire State bldg required only ONE YEAR from start & finish!), the so called groundbreaking probably refers to LA Live in general. IOW, if the hotels really won't be ready for another 3 solid yrs, then it's very likely the devlpr either will have a very sloooow crew working on them, or that actual construction won't truly begin until very late in the yr. :(

[ThreeHundred]

Most 50+ story buildings take 3 years to build.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Drove by on the southbound yesterday. Great to see all those cranes to the left of the freeway.

We're finally going to have ourselves a real downtown! ;)

[citywatch]

Most 50+ story buildings take 3 years to build.I'm glad you made me do a little research to see just how accurate or not you are. Until now I'd have considered time schedules for various large highrise projs to last not much beyond 2 yrs, with a full 3 yrs from start to finish being unusually drawn out.

However, after finding this article about a new tower going up in Chicago, I now realize I should split the difference. IOW, an estimate of around 2.5 yrs is about right. That means the hotel for LA Live, instead of starting construction almost at the end of 2007 could very likely break ground by not much later than Sept 07, or within the next 4 to 6 months.



Issue: Midwest Edition • Publication Date: 3/15/2007
Chicago to Sport New Skyline
By Lori Lovely

Groundbreaking for a new 60-story office building on prime real estate in downtown Chicago took place last June. Construction at 300 North LaSalle Street was scheduled to be completed within 30 months, with substantial completion of core and shell construction expected by December 2008.

The 1.3-million-sq.-ft. (120.7 million sq m) building on the west side of LaSalle Street is slated to become one of the city’s tallest, rising more than 800 ft. above the Chicago River’s north shore to provide stunning views of the city for tenants.

[LAMetroGuy]

More from the A&D exhibit:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02028Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02018Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02017Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02016Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02015Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02014Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02013Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02012Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02011Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02010Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02008Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02007Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02006Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02005Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02004Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02003Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02002Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02001Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02000Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC01999Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC01998Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC01997Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC01996Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC01995Large.jpg

[Westsidelife]

Holy crap. That's quite impressive.

[ThreeHundred]

I really love the glass. Plus this going to be a broad tower. Love it.

[DJM19]

I love it...especially this shot:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Models/DSC02015Large.jpg

[JRinSoCal]

Has work started on this thing yet? Anything at all?

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Beautiful and MASSive! cant wait.

[colemonkee]

Has work started on this thing yet? Anything at all?
Not yet. But it should sometime this year.

[Steve2726]

Finally, a webcam!-

http://lalive.clarkconstruction.com/

Full screen, change date/time, etc. here-

http://clarkconstruction.oxblue.com/lalive/


http://oxblue.com/archive/eae5a351d6c08c9a40deb873b8eaa87d/320x240.jpg

http://oxblue.com/archive/c15a7bb2a2a8fd43ecc069d82daf4c58/320x240.jpg

Camera 1 has a view of the pit where the hotel will be so we can tell when that starts.
Camera 2 has a good view of the Hanover tower construction, the Met Lofts lights and Luma.

[colemonkee]

^ Nice! Check out the view of Camera 2. They've installed rebar for beams above street level where the Convention Center expansion will eventually go. Will the parking here go above ground as well, or are they building the expansion now? I can't imagine they are...

[bobcat]

Cool! Maybe LAMetroGuy can add them to the first post so they will be easier to find.

BTW, does anyone know of any other LA area live construction web cams? So far I know of the ones at LACMA (http://www.lacma.org/info/TransformWebcam.aspx), the CA Science Center (http://209.78.200.21/view/view.shtml), and the LA Children's Museum (http://72.67.116.101/)

[citywatch]

Finally, a webcam!-Fantastic! If that web site has been around for awhile, too bad it wasn't known about (at least to me) until you posted the link. Now everyone can see for themselves what's going on with the LA Live proj, esp what's happening to the area where the hotel is supposed to be located. Better yet, we can even keep a daily watch on work on the Hanover apt tower.

So far, it looks like the land under the planned Marriott & Ritz hotel still isn't being worked on.


BTW, does anyone know of any other LA area live construction web cams?
This (http://www.colburnschool.edu/netcam/netcam1.jpg) no longer is a web cam per se, but it does have regularly updated photos of work on the Colburn bldg across the street from Disney hall, & which will include dorm rms for students & a cafeteria for both students & the public.

[ksep]

L.A. Live Hotel Groundbreaking Coming

News Brief

The $800 million Convention Center headquarters hotel, which is part of the $2.5 billion L.A. Live sports and entertainment district, is expected to break ground around April 30, Los Angeles Downtown News has learned. The 54-story project is being developed by the Anschutz Entertainment Group and is expected to open in early 2010. It will feature a 124-room Ritz Carlton, an 876-room Marriott Marquis and 224 luxury condominiums on the upper levels (known as The Residences at the Ritz Carlton Los Angeles). The Marriott's rooms will comprise the bulk of an L-shaped structure that will anchor the base of the tower housing the Ritz, and will include the largest ballroom in the city. The Convention Center hotel has long been envisioned by tourism officials as a way for the city to finally compete with San Diego, San Francisco and Anaheim for lucrative convention business by offering a central facility big enough to house visitors. "The infrastructure is already underway, and it will mark construction on the last component of L.A. Live," said AEG spokesman Michael Roth, who added that several new announcements regarding the hotel will be made during the groundbreaking. The first phase of L.A. Live, the Nokia Plaza, will open Nov. 1.

[ThreeHundred]

Woo!!

[LAMetroGuy]

This is GREAT news, thanks for posting. :banana:

[latennisguy]

final phase already? awesome news..i take it the theatres are already under construction also :cheers:

[SD_Phil]

After all these years! This is very exciting. Thanks to everyone for all the updates!

[futurearchie317]

how tall is the ritz portion supposed to be? also, is there access to the area via metro?

[RAlossi]

how tall is the ritz portion supposed to be? also, is there access to the area via metro?

I'm not certain how tall the tower will be, but there is rail access via the Pico Blue Line station as well as it being a short walk from 7th/Metro Center Station.

[luckyeight]

Expect in mid May next month for 3% deposit to secure
a unit. I don't have the info what the price range will be.

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[yeah215]

^ speaking of which. I think Metro should probably makes some serious improvements to the Pico Blue line station. With all of the construction and new development in that area, there should really be a substantiative station.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

yeah215 i agree. that is going to be a MAJOR hub of activity.

[colemonkee]

Good news from today's LA Business Journal, but according to this, the groundbreaking won't be in April. Makes sense, since the Downtown News regularly gets their numbers wrong...


AEG Lands Hotel Partner
By DANIEL MILLER
Los Angeles Business Journal Staff
Anschutz Entertainment Group Inc. has found a new partner for its Convention Center hotel project at L.A. Live after going it alone for several months.

Macfarlane Partners LLC, a San Francisco-based real estate firm that specializes in development and investment management, will replace former partner KB Home, according to a downtown real estate source. The Los Angeles home builder dropped out of the $800 million project in December.

Macfarlane’s deal with Los Angeles-based AEG is said to be structured similarly to KB’s, with the two firms equal financial partners but Macfarlane acting as the “lead development partner,” according to the source.

“Macfarlane isn’t just giving them money,” the source said.

The $2.5 billion L.A. Live project across from Staples Center will include a 54-story hotel tower that will feature an 878-room hotel operated by JW Marriott and a 123-room Ritz-Carlton atop the Marriott portion of the building.

Peter Houghton, managing director of Macfarlane, declined to comment except to say, “We are happy to attend the groundbreaking ceremony if we are invited.”

AEG spokesman Michael Roth said that his firm is “prepared to be the sole investor” and said the company would not make any announcements prior to a groundbreaking ceremony, which is set to take place in five to seven weeks.

KB pulled out of the project in December after its former Chief Executive Bruce Karatz, who had been a champion of the hotel, left KB over an inquiry into stock option practices.

[danparker276]

They got some blue tarp on ESPN building now. From that construction cam, there is some green tarp below. Maybe they'll use blue tarp instead of the green.

[colemonkee]

The tarp is to prevent the fireproofing material from falling below as they spray it on. I'm not sure if the color makes a difference, or if they just couldn't find matching pairs in the closet. Perhaps we should check their socks :D