New 3,300-Seat Venue Could Be Coming to Downtown Portland, Maine

If it gets the green light, construction is planned to start in 2025 on a new way to see shows in Portland, Maine.

According to Mainebiz, a slightly smaller version of Boston's MGM Music Hall at Fenway could be coming to Portland, Maine, right next to Merrill Auditorium.

Ready for it?

What kind of shows will play at the new venue in Portland, Maine?

The new venue (unnamed so far) is the combination of Mile Marker Investments out of Scarborough and Live Nation, according to MaineBiz.

The publication said that Mile Marker just opened in 2024, the Longfellow Hotel in Portland, and Live Nation runs the MGM Concert Hall in Boston. So they hope that some of the shows booked in Boston would also make Portland, Maine, a stop on their tour.

Currently, they have shows ranging from Melissa Etheridge to Pixies and everything in between.

Where exactly is the new Portland, Maine venue going?

The proposed 66,000-square-foot Portland venue still needs the approval of the Portland Planning Board and would be at 224 Cumberland Ave, according to Mainebiz. Basically across the street from Merrill Auditorium.

It will hold 3,300 audience members, the publication said.

It's Goldilocks. Cross Insurance Arena (6,200) is too big. Merrill Auditorium (1,900) is too small. But the new venue will be just right.

Todd Goldenfarb from Mile Marker Investments told Mainebiz,

This is a size venue that doesn’t exist in the city. We'd like to get some of the tours that are going to MGM but haven't had the place to play in Portland. I think it’s going to grow the pool of talent that comes here.

READ MORE: Rock Row in Westbrook, Maine, Officially Opens Quarryside Gathering Place

New jobs in Portland, Maine but no plans to add parking

Goldenfarb told Mainebiz that the new venue would create more than 250 part- and full-time jobs with pay starting at $20 an hour. Once Portland says yes, and there's no indication they won't, construction should start later this year and they hope to open in late 2027.

It does not come with parking, but they aren't worried because of garages and lots in the area.

Could be a super fun addition to Portland, Maine.