House of Blues planning to open nine new venues in eight cities

Gary Gentile

Monday, Oct. 9, 2000 | 11:10 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- House of Blues Entertainment Inc. will open nine new amphitheaters and clubs in eight U.S. cities by next year, expanding the number of its outlets by about a third.

The expansion announced today includes clubs in San Diego, San Jose, Calif., Denver, Dallas and Kansas City, Mo. The clubs include a concert hall that seats about 1,000 people and a Cajun-style restaurant that seats 200 to 300 diners.

House of Blues already operates a club and restaurant at the Mandalay Bay resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

House of Blues Concerts Inc., a subsidiary of HOB Entertainment, also plans to open larger amphitheaters -- each seating from 7,000 to 20,000 people -- in San Jose, Austin and Salt Lake City.

The company did not release the total investment. But HOB Entertainment president and chief executive Greg Trojan said the typical club costs about $5 million to develop, while an amphitheater costs around $15 million.

"Most of the development either adds a club where we have an amphitheater or adds an amphitheater where we have a club," Trojan said.

Trojan said the additions are part of a broader strategy to expand the House of Blues brand.

"These cities represent the beginning of our new venue initiative and were strategically chosen as centers where we can have a significant impact on both the arts and the entertainment community as a whole," Trojan said.

HOB Entertainment is a privately held company that owns, operates or has exclusive booking rights to 27 clubs and arenas in North America.