YouTube Theater to Open on Summer; Video Sharing Giant Obtains Naming Rights to Theater at LA Hollywood Park
Aside from being popular because of its vast online video library, Youtube is now lending its name to an Inglewood performance venue.
Youtube, which is a division of Google, will be opening the Youtube Theater in mid-summer. The theater would also be the main stage for YouTube creators' events, to showcase their contents from esports competitions to award shows and even concerts.
YouTube Obtains Naming Rights to Theater at LA Hollywood Park
According to the Los Angeles Times, Angela Courtin, the vice president of brand marketing of YouTube, mentioned in a statement that the YouTube Theater will exhibit the uniqueness of YouTube but only combined with physical aspects, especially 'in real life' events. Courtin also stated that the venue would bring creators and fans together while simultaneously sharing that same event experience with their two billion global monthly users through livestreams and VOD content inside the online video sharing and social media platform.
The theater is part of the 10-year naming rights agreement between the Google-owned division, Youtube and Hollywood Park, an Inglewood development backed by Stan Kroenke, the owner of the Los Angeles Rams, Variety reported.
The managing director of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, Jason Gannon, said that the new theater fits with the vision of the Rams owner Kroenke, who developed the site. Gannon added that when he set out to build YouTube Theater, the LA Rams owner envisioned an intimate, world-class venue experience that exemplified three core aspects: technology, creativity, and entertainment, Deadline reported.
The agreement has been available, but its financial terms were not disclosed to the public.
Moreover, the developers also targeted that the Youtube Theater would be the edge of the company compared to other competitors. The company mentioned that they want to build brand awareness in the community at a time when YouTube faces rising competition from social media like TikTok and other free ad-supported streaming services that are getting the consumers' attention.
Google has expanded its presence in Southern California in recent years. The multinational technology company specializing in internet-related services and products opened an office inside the Spruce Goose hangar, which is part of the complex. They also included soundstages that can be used for productions.
YouTube, in the past, was seen as a pariah in Hollywood. However, it managed to change its image by working closely with media companies to help them market their movies and shows. During the pandemic, The viewership of Youtube skyrocketed as late-night show hosts and even artists turned the video-sharing site into an avenue of viewership. Hosts and artists filmed themselves at home, and performers hosted live-streamed events when productions and venues were closed because of the safety protocols and social distancing measures caused by the pandemic.
The three-story, the 227,000-square-foot theater would be part of the Hollywood Park, which is a roughly 300-acre complex in Inglewood. The venue with a 6,000-seat performance would also be hosting live entertainment and is located near SoFi Stadium and American Airlines Plaza. The theater will be having a large exterior video screen that will feature content from well-known to rising YouTube creators and artists in the video streaming platform.
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