Liverpool Empire sold as part of £90m deal

Nov 4 2009 by Laura Davis, Liverpool Daily Post

As reported in the Daily Post in June, Los Angeles-based entertainment promoter Live Nation put its UK theatres on the market at an estimated asking price of £75m.

This followed the $90m sale of its US theatres in March, 2008, to Key Brand Entertainment, which also considered an option to purchase the British venues.

Live Nation has said it wants to concentrate on its “core business” of producing, marketing and selling live concerts.

Mr Dyke said: “I’ve known ATG for many years and seen it grow from its early years in Woking to become one of the biggest theatre operators in the UK.

“It is a great British success story and the acquisition of the Live Nation Theatres will make the group even more successful and I’m looking forward to being part of its future.”

The Empire theatre opened in 1925 on the site of The New Prince of Wales Theatre and Opera House, launched in 1866.

In July, 1977, its owner, Moss Empires, reviewed plans to dispose of the theatre after a five-year loss.

It was saved by Merseyside County Council in April, 1979.