Athens Welcomes the B-52s to Inaugural Classic City Arena Performance

The Classic City Arena in Athens, Georgia, is set to make history as it announces the B-52s as the first performers to grace its stage. In a press conference held in collaboration with Live Nation, the iconic new wave band will take the stage on December 14th, with special guests of Montreal and DJ Cummerbund. This highly anticipated event promises to be a celebration of Athens' rich musical heritage and the city's exciting new entertainment venue.

Bringing the B-52s Back Home to Athens

Honoring Athens' Musical Legacy

The B-52s, formed in Athens in 1976, have long been synonymous with the city's vibrant music scene. Known for their infectious dance-rock sound and hits like "Rock Lobster," "Love Shack," and "Wig," the band has amassed a devoted following over the decades. Velena Vego, the vice president of third-party programming at Live Nation, emphasized the significance of having the B-52s as the first performers at the new arena."I thought it would look really cool for the city of Athens [if the B-52s performed] instead of some random person that's not connected to Athens," Vego said. "I think it's important to respect what's been before us and make history a fun thing."

A Homecoming Celebration

The announcement of the B-52s' performance at the Classic City Arena has generated excitement within the Athens community. Danny Bryant, the general manager of the arena, believes the news will be well-received by local residents."The B-52s are Athens legends, and [it] feels right to have a local band come back and open this place up," Bryant said. "I think people are going to be really excited."Katie Williams, the vice president of sales, marketing, and tourism for The Classic Center, echoed this sentiment, noting the band's multigenerational appeal."The B-52s are one of those bands that are multi-generational and people have grown up listening to their music and have an appreciation for it," Williams said. "This is something that people of any age are going to want to enjoy and also just be a part of history."

Elevating the Concert Experience in Athens

The Classic City Arena's partnership with Live Nation promises to elevate the concert experience in Athens. Peter Conlon, the chairman of the board for Live Nation Georgia, explained that the arena's state-of-the-art production capabilities will allow it to attract major touring talent."You can actually rig a building so you'll be able to attract major talent," Conlon said. "This is the first building in Athens to have its own production capabilities."Bryant acknowledged that the first concert will be a learning experience, but he expressed confidence in the city's ability to handle major events."For us, it's growing those systems and expanding those to be able to handle more people coming into town, but Athens is used to hosting major events," Bryant said.

Driving Tourism and Economic Growth

The B-52s' performance at the Classic City Arena is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy. Williams projected that the arena will generate million in revenue within its first year of operation, with the B-52s' concert being a crucial stepping stone."[The visitors] are going to be spending the night at hotels, they're going to be shopping in our stores, enjoying downtown Athens," Williams said. "They're going to have a huge impact and that's the great benefit of this facility."Tickets for the B-52s' performance will range from .50 to 9.50 and will be available for purchase on July 19th at 10 a.m. The Classic Center's website will be the primary source for ticket information.As the Classic City Arena prepares to open its doors, the B-52s' homecoming performance promises to be a momentous occasion that celebrates Athens' rich musical heritage and ushers in a new era of entertainment for the city.