First Avenue Mainroom To Reopen After Partial Ceiling Collapse
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Iconic Twin Cities music venue First Avenue will reopen Friday night after a 30-by-30-foot portion of its ceiling collapsed during a concert, injuring five people.
The venue has been closed since Aug. 12, and it has taken the work of hundreds to get the place back in order.
"We've got the best guys possible working on this right now, and we'll get it done," First Avenue General Manager Nathan Kranz said.
The entire ceiling was removed during the closure.
"The ceiling isn't even there, so yeah, there's quite literally no chance that that could possibly happen," Kranz said.
Between replacing the sprinkler system and cancelling shows, Kranz could not say how much money has been lost, but only that it is significant.
"We've wasted no expense in making sure we can get this work done and making sure we can get it done quickly," Kranz said.
City inspection officials have said they may never know why the ceiling came crumbling down, but that the show will go on safely.
Even the band whose show was cut short when the ceiling fell, Theory of a Dead Man, will return to First Avenue. They made the promise in a new video to their fans.
"We are going to do something special for all the people that were affected by the incident, so hopefully we'll see you all there," lead singer Tyler Connolly said.
Kranz is ready for music fans to return to the hallowed venue.
"Get bands on stage and customers in the room, and people having a good time finally," Kranz said.
First Avenue has passed all of its inspections to reopen. The doors open at 8 p.m. Friday night for the show featuring the band Grrrl Party.