Opening of new state-of-the-art concert venue with unique indoor-outdoor capacity inside Atlantic Park is a historic moment for Virginia Beach
By Leona Baker
The buzzing, banging and beeping of construction equipment inside and outside The Dome this spring may have been loud, but it was music to the ears of those who have waited decades for it to become a reality.
Those sounds will soon be replaced by rock vocals, guitar riffs, drum solos and a little bit of “Joy to the World” for good measure. Late ‘60s-early ‘70s pop/rock band Three Dog Night will have the honor of being the first act to take the stage at the new music venue inside the nearly completed Atlantic Park for a specific reason.
They were the last band to play at the old Dome, the iconic freestanding geodesic concert hall that occupied the same spot between 19th and 20th streets at the Oceanfront for 35 years before it was torn down in 1994.
While there are nods to the original and its history of hosting some of the most legendary music acts of the 20th century, the new Dome is a unique, state-of-the-art space designed for the future and with versatility in mind.
“There is nothing like it on the East Coast,” says venue operations manager Tabatha Webster. “It has an amazing ability to flex from an intimate indoor setting to an outdoor amphitheater style space as well.”
A NEW ERA: Renderings of the nearly complete and long-awaited Dome concert venue depict its stage area and lighting, uniquely convertible viewer capacity, parametric wall and lounge areas.
That is thanks to the venue’s innovative “hangar doors”—the name and style of the massive doors an homage to our local military community—which can retract to create a giant window allowing direct views of the stage from an open-air lawn plaza enclosed within the Atlantic Park complex.
The interior portion of the music hall has a capacity of 3,500 as well as various options for fixed seating for certain types of performers or special events. The capacity with the hangar doors open expands to 5,000.
Some other features include a distinctive parametric wall in the lobby, the shape of which mimics the waves of the Atlantic, VIP areas on the mezzanine, box seating, membership options, a variety of food and drink and, for performers, viewing windows from the second floor artist suites allowing them to look down into the stage from a private vantage point before or after their appearances.
In addition to concerts and comedy shows, The Dome will be available to book for special events including weddings, the first of which will occur in June. Organizers expect to host about 100 events annually, making The Dome a year-round venue.
The Dome is the centerpiece of the $350 million Atlantic Park entertainment project, which has been championed by Virginia Beach native and entertainer Pharrell Williams. Atlantic Park, including its much-anticipated, wave park is expected to open by mid-summer. The Dome will be managed by Live Nation in partnership with the Oak View Group.
Upcoming shows at The Dome include Three Dog Night (May 4), Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone (May 5); Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo (May 7), Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (May 22); Coheed and Cambria & Mastodon (May 24); Kevin James (June 6); Diana Krall (July 6); Chicago (July 22); Cody Jinks (August 11); Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas (August 28); Papa Roach & Rise Against (September 17); Steve Martin & Martin Short (Sept. 19) and more.
Visit thedomevb.com or follow @thedomevb for more information.
Leona Baker
Leona Baker is the former Editor-in-Chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine. She is a writer, creative, communications professional, food freak, news junkie, nature and travel lover and mom. She holds a degree in English from James Madison University and a degree in Dance & Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She previously served as Senior Copywriter for Spark 451, Director of Marketing & Communications at Virginia Wesleyan University, and Senior Editor of Port Folio Weekly.
