Eminem in talks to buy St. Andrew's Hall

[Matt]

Eminem in talks to buy St. Andrew's Hall

Adam Graham / Detroit News Pop Music Writer

Eminem is in negotiations with concert promoters Live Nation to purchase St. Andrew's Hall, sources confirmed to The Detroit News on Monday.

The Detroit rapper has been in talks with the Live Nation (formerly Clear Channel Entertainment) about buying the downtown Detroit concert venue for a month, according to an insider who requested anonymity.

As part of the proposed deal, terms of which were not disclosed, Eminem and his manager, Paul Rosenberg, would manage the 1,000-capacity venue, and members of the club's current management team would continue to run the building's day-to-day operations.

Live Nation sources and St. Andrew's Hall management declined comment on Monday. A phone call to Eminem's management was not returned as of press time.

St. Andrew's, with its rectangular design, open floor area and horseshoe-shaped balcony, hosts concerts by up-and-coming performers and mid-level rock and hip-hop acts. The building's basement, the Shelter, has the capacity to accommodate several hundred patrons and hosts concerts by artists not quite ready for the stage upstairs.

Eminem has a lot of history with St. Andrew's. He infamously participated in rap battles at the Shelter in scenes that were re-created for the film "8 Mile." Em hosted the DVD premiere party for "8 Mile" at St. Andrew's in March 2003, and he posed (with D12) for the cover of Spin Magazine's August 2001 issue on the venue's front steps.

Given his ties to the building and the venue's price, the building is "a good investment for him," the source said.

[Fool]

I hope they revamp the place. Last time I was there (bout 5 years about now) the balcony felt like it was going to fall in and the ceiling started dropping shit on the main floor crowd.

[RegicideGreg]

Oh so ghetto is St. Andrew's haha

[Uncle Mxy]

As long as he doesn't rename it "The Marshall Mathers Energy Center" or some wack shit like that, it sounds like a good deal for all concerned. I'm surprised that artists don't own more venues.

[bangpow]

I'm surprised that artists don't own more venues.

It's because they are bad investments.

[Big Swami]

I've been down there quite a lot. I actually managed to get in a concert movie that was being filmed there. I like the place, it's so crappy and strictly Detroit. It may be a post-apocalyptic wasteland, but it's my post-apocalyptic wasteland.