#1
Posted: 11/28/25 at 9:00am
ABBA Voyage Plans Global Second Venue on Hell’s Kitchen’s 11th Avenue
#2
Posted: 11/28/25 at 9:18am
Is there REALLY enough of an audience for a hologram show here that a venue needs to be built?
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#3
Posted: 11/28/25 at 9:38am
iluvtheatertrash said: "Is there REALLY enough of an audience for a hologram show here that a venue needs to be built?"
I have no idea, but it has been playing for 3.5 years in a 3000-seat in east London.
#4
Posted: 11/28/25 at 9:54am
I thought they were aiming for Vegas since tit has better chances for a hologram concert. But I suppose the decline in Vegas over the past few years influenced their decision to change the location. The show has been a massive hit in the UK but also Abba has always been way more popular in Europe so I don't know how it'll do in the US. My biggest concern is ticket price in NYC tbh.
It might find its audience, I know I'd like to see it at least once. I heard great things from the show experience
#5
Posted: 11/28/25 at 10:05am
If the venue could also be used for other performances, I think it’s a fine idea. That area doesn’t have a lot going for it and it seems to be zoned only for commercial use.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#6
Posted: 11/28/25 at 3:52pm
pablitonizer said: "I thought they were aiming for Vegas since tit has better chances for a hologram concert. But I suppose the decline in Vegas over the past few years influenced their decision to change the location. The show has been a massive hit in the UK but also Abba has always been way more popular in Europe so I don't know how it'll do in the US. Mybiggest concern is ticket price in NYC tbh.
It might find its audience, I know I'd like to see it at least once. I heard great things from the show experience
"
I saw it with my bestie when we were in London last year and we loved it As ABBA fans since we were kids in the 70s ( and ABBA was bigger in Australia than anywhere else) we were always going to enjoy it for the music but the technical brilliance of the show blew us away.
Originally ABBA Voyage was supposed to come to Australia next in Melbourne but the Victorian state government ended up stepping away from negotiations as they weren't prepared to put in the majority of the $100M it was estimated to cost to build the venue.
#7
Posted: 11/28/25 at 8:52pm
I've seen the London version. I have mixed feelings about the show. When it's truly in concert form, the live back up band and the "ABBA'tars (their terminology), the overall effect is striking., incredibly lifelike. There's a few songs they never performed live before as they broke up years after their last tour such as "The Visitors" which is thrilling. Some tracks even have new vocals though most are from the original recordings. Everything from the body movements to the way the costumes move are astonishingly real. Where the show fails is when it feels like a music video. Two songs are literally cartoons like "Eagle", and some are just blown up performance videos like "Knowing Me Knowing You". They really feel like bathroom breaks. And with "Does Your Mother Know", the virtual Benny sings one line and leaves the rest to the live band. About a third of the show feels like filler. But when they stick to trying to create a live performance, it's spectacular. It'll be interesting to see if it's a commercial success. It won't come cheap to stage it, and I'll be curious what they charge for tickets.
Updated On: 11/28/25 at 08:52 PM
#8
Posted: 11/28/25 at 9:25pm
SteveSanders said: "iluvtheatertrash said: "Is there REALLY enough of an audience for a hologram show here that a venue needs to be built?"
I have no idea, but it has been playing for 3.5 years in a 3000-seat in east London.
Yes but ABBA has been a massive part of the UK culture in a way that it never was in the US.and of course the venue pulls fans from across Europe. When I worked in London and Dublin during a gap year (in the late 1990s, but JUST before Mama Mia opened in London) I was honestly surprised when I'd go out to the pubs with my coworkers (I had a glamorous job at two different Tesco's) and how for karaoke, etc, everyone seemed to know ABBA in a way I just never saw in N America. (I mean even the football loving "lad's lads" would sing ABBA songs.)
So New York feels like an odd place to build their second venue. But, if it is being built as something that after 6 months or a year can host other things, as people suggest, that makes a lot more sense.
#9
Posted: 11/28/25 at 10:05pm
I’m not sure of an American group or artist who could sustain a hologram meets live residential show like ABBA, not even Elvis. But if the Beatles had one, especially now that they’re restoring so much footage with Peter Jackson… THAT might run.
#10
==> this board is a nest of vipers <==
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
Posted: 11/29/25 at 10:43am
A "30-year lease" seems awfully optimistic.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#11
Posted: 11/29/25 at 2:21pm
I would have suggested staging this in Radio City for a few weeks, make it an event, and gauge the interest. Then maybe launch a tour to arenas in selected cities. It seems strange they would spend all that money building a new venue just for this. If/when the interest dries up is there a need for this type of venue in Manhattan?
#12
Posted: 11/29/25 at 2:31pm
“I would have suggested staging this in Radio City for a few weeks, make it an event, and gauge the interest.”
It’s because this isn’t pack up and place anywhere technology. It was built in a purpose built arena on purpose.
As for the lease terms, 30 years is standard for something like this.
#13
Posted: 11/29/25 at 8:16pm
darquegk said: "I’m not sure of an American group or artist who could sustain a hologram meets live residential show like ABBA, not even Elvis. But if the Beatles had one, especially now that they’re restoring so much footage with Peter Jackson… THAT might run."
I will say that this feels much more than another hologram show. The detailing is remarkable as the effects were done by George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic (Star Wars) of which all of ABBA was shot on a soundstage. It really them moving around with motion capture, and as I previously mentioned, some of the tracks have newly recorded vocals. Some of the songs have never been performed live before like "The Visitors" (one of my personal faves). It's a main reason why Brian May of Queen said there'd be no Queen virtual show for the simple reason that Freddy's dead (cue Curtis Mayfield). All of ABBA had a say as to what the show was to look like, and I think it more or less achieves it as a spectacle. For people who want to dance, they can get a GA ticket for the dance floor. It has many flaws, and I think a three year run is ambitious, but who knows.
#14
Posted: 11/30/25 at 3:42pm
While it's true ABBA has traditionally been most popular outside of America, Mama Mia has massively affected their popularity in the US. Being a dormant band there's never really been a test of just how far those changes stretch. Guess Voyage is their way of testing it.
#15
Posted: 12/1/25 at 1:40pm
I've seen the show twice in London, and am planning on a third next summer since they have switched up the set list. It is breathtaking.
Voyage is in a PURPOSE built venue. The video screens wrap around the front and the sound system is over the top. There is a special screen used for the visuals. There is no "renting the venue out" for other shows. It is tailor made for THIS show and THIS show only.
The show is otherwordly, very realistic, and the sound system is unlike ANYTHING I have ever encountered. The naysayers said it would flop even in London. It's still going strong. They are not "moving" the arena to NYC, but creating a new build. It is possible another venue in Australia is in the works.
NYC is an international city and trust me, the investors have done their due diligence here. At any rate - GO SEE IT.
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#16
Posted: 12/1/25 at 1:49pm
CJRochester said: "I would have suggested staging this inRadio City for a few weeks, make it an event, and gauge the interest. Then maybe launch a tour to arenas in selected cities.It seems strange they would spend all that money building a new venue just for this. If/when the interest dries up is there a need for this type of venue in Manhattan?"
There is no using another venue for this type of show. The technology is custom for this arena.
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#17
Posted: 12/1/25 at 1:53pm
Jumpin_J said: "
I've seen the London version. I have mixed feelings about the show. When it's truly in concert form, the live back up band and the "ABBA'tars (their terminology), the overall effect is striking., incredibly lifelike. There's a few songs they never performed live before as they broke up years after their last tour such as "The Visitors" which is thrilling. Some tracks even have new vocals though most are from the original recordings. Everything from the body movements to the way the costumes move are astonishingly real. Where the show fails is when it feels like a music video. Two songs are literally cartoons like "Eagle", and some are just blown up performance videos like "Knowing Me Knowing You". They really feel like bathroom breaks. And with "Does Your Mother Know", the virtual Benny sings one line and leaves the rest to the live band. About a third of the show feels like filler. But when they stick to trying to create a live performance, it's spectacular. It'll be interesting to see if it's a commercial success. It won't come cheap to stage it, and I'll be curious what they charge for tickets.
"
It was explained to me that because of the screens used for the ABBA-tars, they do 3 songs in a row of the ABBA-tars then they show a video or other clip - and it somehows cools down the screens/technology for the "concert". There seem to be three "live" songs in a row, followed by a video specially created for the show. They are great. There are two animation based songs that you mentioned - they are visually striking but also were where I took my bathroom break or ran to the bar. In addition to the great visuals, the sound system is ridiculously good.
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Updated On: 12/1/25 at 01:53 PM
#18
Posted: 12/1/25 at 1:56pm
CJRochester said: "I would have suggested staging this inRadio City for a few weeks, make it an event, and gauge the interest. Then maybe launch a tour to arenas in selected cities.It seems strange they would spend all that money building a new venue just for this. If/when the interest dries up is there a need for this type of venue in Manhattan?"
The technology would not be possible in Radio City Musical Hall. It works only in this special venue (video screens/sound system). This is NO Whitney Houston avatar show, trust.
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#19
Posted: 12/1/25 at 2:00pm
darquegk said: "I’m not sure of an American group or artist who could sustain a hologram meets live residential show like ABBA, not even Elvis. But if the Beatles had one, especially now that they’re restoring so much footage with Peter Jackson… THAT might run."
Avatar shows of already dead people do NOT work. (insert A Night With Whitney Houston reviews here).
All four living members of ABBA were filmed on motion capture video - live- to help create the visuals. This has never been done before. The technology is over the top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyri2ycwHJk
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Updated On: 12/1/25 at 02:00 PM
#20
Posted: 12/1/25 at 2:01pm
For tech info, start at about 6:00 or so . ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygkcwU0SWNk
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Updated On: 12/1/25 at 02:01 PM
#21
Posted: 12/1/25 at 4:12pm
shomeika said: "For tech info, start at about 6:00 or so . ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygkcwU0SWNk"
Thank you for all of this useful info.
#22
Posted: 12/1/25 at 5:14pm
CJRochester said: "shomeika said: "For tech info, start at about 6:00 or so . ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygkcwU0SWNk"
Thank you for all of this useful info.
"
My pleasure and sorry I am blowing up this thread, but I am OBSESSED. This show is just amazing!
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#23
Posted: 12/1/25 at 5:18pm
ABBA’s Popular Hologram Show Could Come to New York City
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/nyregion/abba-voyage-nyc.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5U8.79Vq.UrgJnSVx5rUx&smid=nytcore-android-share
#24
Posted: 12/1/25 at 6:50pm
Lot666 said: "A "30-year lease" seems awfully optimistic."
It's just real estate legalese. I do not think they expect the show to run for three decades.
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#25
Posted: 12/1/25 at 6:53pm
https://variety.com/2022/music/concert-reviews/abba-voyage-cgi-concert-review-1235280181/
https://www.westendtheatre.com/119416/news/reviews/abba-voyage-concert-reviews-round-up-at-abba-arena/
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Updated On: 12/2/25 at 06:53 PM
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