Live Nation’s first permanent venue in Africa to open in January

Live Nation Entertainment, in collaboration with Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) and Gearhouse South Africa, is set to open The Dome in January, a new state-of-the-art venue in Johannesburg. 

Located adjacent to FNB Stadium in Nasrec, Johannesburg, the new venue will have a capacity of over 10,500 – making it South Africa’s largest dedicated live entertainment space. The Dome will also mark Live Nation’s first permanent venue in Africa.

Designed, manufactured and built in South Africa, the venue will offer over 6,000 square-metres of multi-purpose space, which can also be used for conferences, exhibitions, banquets, and product launches.

The Dome will further act as a hub for local and pan-African talent, highlighting genres such as afrobeats, amapiano (which originated in South Africa), dance, pop, hip-hop and R&B. Nigerian afrobeats artist Tems has already announced her first solo headline show at the venue, scheduled for March 20, 2025.

Justin Van Wyk, chief executive of Live Nation South Africa, which will promote and produce the venue’s events, commented: “The Dome fills a critical gap in South Africa’s live entertainment scene, creating a unique space that will support pan-African talent. The venue will provide new opportunities to connect emerging and established artists with a new demographic of South African fans.”

Stadium Management South Africa specialises in managing South African venues, including FNB Stadium, Rand Stadium, Orlando Stadium, and Dobsonville Stadium, on behalf of the City of Johannesburg. Gearhouse South Africa features in the live event technical services industry, and works on events of all sizes.

SMSA will oversee the management of the facility as part of its agreement with the City of Johannesburg.

“This collaboration with Live Nation and Gearhouse South Africa reflects our shared vision to not only host world-class events but also empower local talent, boost economic growth, and create a vibrant cultural hub in Johannesburg and the Gauteng Province,” said Bertie Grobbelaar, CEO at Stadium Management South Africa.

“We are proud to contribute to a venue that will inspire and connect audiences, artists, and communities across Africa and beyond.”

Ofer Lapid and Nasser Abbas, joint CEOs at Guardhouse South Africa, added: “As the Gearhouse Group we are proud and excited to be partnering with Live Nation and Stadium Management South Africa on this new venture. The collaboration is fuelled by our shared vision, passion, and a commitment to service excellence, and we’re excited about the opportunities this venue will create.”