TWO major Merseyside theatres could be sold under their owner’s plans to offload its 17 UK venues.
The Empire, in Liverpool, and Southport Theatre are among the Live Nation businesses put up on the market at an estimated asking price of £75m.
This follows the $90m sale of its US theatres in March, 2008, to Key Brand Entertainment, which is now considering an option to purchase the UK venues.
Bids are also being invited from other companies.
But the Los Angeles-based entertainment promoter says it is not a done deal.
Paul Latham, Live Nation’s chief operating officer, said: “It is by no means certain that the theatres will be sold at all.
“It is like putting your house up for sale and seeing how the market is.
“We would be very happy if they did not sell.”
Mr Latham said that the speculative move does not reflect the current economic climate and is not in response to financial problems.
