It’s not every day there’s a groundbreaking for a new venue in Portland. In fact, we’ve never seen a groundbreaking like this in the Rose City. On Wednesday, October 22, local booking and promotion agency Monqui Presents, along with international bookers and promoters Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for their new Lloyd Center venue slated to open in 2027. 

As previously reported by the Mercury, the new venue is being built at the corner of Northeast 9th and Multnomah in the Lloyd District, in the former footprint of Lloyd Center anchor store Nordstrom. 

Opening its doors in 1960, the mid-century mammoth is famed not only for its ice skating rank centerpiece, but also for its adaptability over the decades. American mall culture has, thankfully, been dwindling since the glory days of Hot Topic and Zumiez, but that doesn’t mean the nearly 1.5 million-square-foot mall has laid down on the tracks. Recent years have seen local Portland businesses moving into its abandoned storefronts. The Musique Plastique record store occupied two spaces in Lloyd Center (including that of a former Lidz), and Floating World Comics continues to hold down a large spot on the second floor. There’s been a lot of goings on in the ILY2 gallery space as of late as well. Much due must be paid to Robbie Augspurger, the original think-outside-the-big-boxer who has been doing glamour shots in Lloyd Center for well over a decade.

Though Monqui and AEG did have to knock down a usable space only to build a similar sized space, the spirit of reinventive rejuvenation is strong with the new project. Several speakers took to the podium at the October 22 groundbreaking, including Monqui founder Mike Quinn, and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. Both shared their belief that the as-of-yet unnamed venue will help the Lloyd District become a cultural hub once again. 

Unfortunately the speakers didn’t take questions before being ushered to the large pile of dirt backdropped by two backhoes (and an off-property statue of stacked coins titled Capitalism) for photos. Had the roster of speakers taken questions, they may have been asked about how the project is planning on supporting the district’s unhoused residents, or what concertgoers can expect by way of ticketing fees. 

Though there are always adjustments and readjustments that need to be made on projects of this magnitude, the venue will certainly be a boon for Portland’s music ecosystem. Too long has Portland been skipped over by medium-sized tours in favor of Seattle and San Francisco. David Byrne is playing three sold out shows at Seattle’s famed Paramount Theatre this month, while choosing to forego a stop in Portland. This new venue will help ensure that medium+ tours will start paying more attention to Portland—at least from 2027, the projected opening date of the new beauty. 

It’s not only the venue’s size that will be an asset to Portland’s music topography, but also the modular and fixed technology going into the build. State-of-the-art sound and lighting will play huge roles in touring acts deciding to stop in Portland. The venue will also create dozens of permanent, full-time positions in the city’s music sector—a true rarity in the constantly revolving door of music spaces in Portland.