He says the venue will boost the concert visibility of the market, leading to fewer acts skipping St. Louis.
The Factory’s capacity, comparable to Stifel Theatre (3,100), positions the venue between the Pageant (1,000-2,300) and the Fox Theatre (4,500).
Dan Merker, former VP of touring for Outback Presents, is working with Schankman as in-house talent buyer for the Factory.
A rendering of the view from the balcony at the Factory at the District
More than 100 acts will be booked each year, and upcoming shows are expected to be announced starting in January. Schankman promises the mix will be varied — rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz, country, Motown, comedy, children’s shows and more.
“You might see Patti LaBelle; you might see Alice Cooper,” Schankman says. “We’re not going to leave any genre out.”
Some of the Factory’s amenities include state-of-art sound and lighting by Logic Systems of St. Louis, free parking, outdoor smoking decks, seven full-service bars, and dedicated ride-sharing drop-off and pickup points.
The main floor will allow for a flexible setup suitable for private events, banquets, sports and other uses.
The Factory will have nine full-time employees and 60 to 80 employees working any given night in areas such as security, box office and production.
