Live Nation

Live Nation, has revealed that its new arena venue will be called the Ziggo Dome. It is named after the Dutch cable company that will be provide sponsorship. Mojo Concerts stages major acts in the Netherlands either in the 10,000-capacity Rotterdam Ahoy or the Gelredome in Arnhem, which is double that capacity. But the lack of availability of the much in-demand Ahoy meant there was a need for a new major venue.

Mojo/Live Nation and the investment company of ex-Mojo CEO Leon Ramakers have agreed a deal to build the 15,600-capacity hall in Amsterdam. "Just like Michael Jackson doing an extended run of shows in the O2 Arena, we feel there are a lot of major artists that could do the same here, if only we would have the proper venue available," says Mojo's head promoter Rob Trommelen. "I can see Dutch superstar Marco Borsato doing this at the Ziggo Dome, just as I expect many big international names to do well there.

Building of the 90 by 90 meter, four-storey 'black box' will begin soon, at a projected cost of €60 million ($77.25 million). It will open its doors in 2011. The Ziggo Dome expects to stage 65 events in its first year, eventually expanding to 100 events yearly, with up to 1 million visitors per annum. You may have heard, recently, that some top name musicians went to Congress in support of the proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger that has many people in the industry worried. Eddie Van Halen, Seal, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins and the four members of the band Journey wrote letters to Congress favoring the deal. But, none of them mentioned a rather important fact, that Bruce Houghton is pointing out.