SA: Live Nation launches The Dome ahead of Tems’ March concert

15 Jan 2025 - 09:29

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

US multinational company, Live Nation, in partnership with Stadium Management South Africa and Gearhouse South Africa, has announced the launch of an entertainment venue The Dome, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Dome next to the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Set to open in March 2025, The Dome is a 10 500-capacity facility that represents a major step forward in South Africa’s live entertainment infrastructure and signals Live Nation’s growing commitment to the African market. The venue is located next to the iconic FNB Stadium in Nasrec and spans 6 000 square meters. Aside music concerts, The Dome is designed to host conferences, exhibitions, and product launches.

Its debut event will feature Nigerian singer Tems, who will headline a concert on 20 March 2025, with tickets priced at R1 310 (about $69) for VIP access and R800 for general admission.

“This venue is not just about scale,” Big Concerts and Live Nation South Africa representative Justin Van Wyk said. “It’s about creating new opportunities for South African fans to experience global-level productions while also spotlighting local and Pan-African acts.”

Live Nation’s Strategy in Africa

The Dome’s launch aligns with Live Nation’s broader strategy to expand its footprint across Africa, leveraging the continent’s growing appetite for live entertainment. Speaking at Bloomberg’s Screentime conference in Los Angeles last year, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino highlighted Africa as a promising market, citing its youthful population and increasing demand for live experiences: “We think Africa is going to be a big business,” he said.

The Dome’s unveiling is part of a larger plan that includes the development of a 12 000-capacity arena in Lagos, Nigeria, in collaboration with the Persianas Group and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority. These projects are aimed at modernising Africa’s live music infrastructure, making it more attractive to international acts while supporting the growth of local talent.

The launch of The Dome comes as a relief to the South African music industry, which faced a major setback with the closure of the 20 000-capacity Ticketpro Dome in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The venue was sold by its owner, Sasol Pension Fund, to a third party that does not operate in the events sector.

Tickets to Tems’ concert are available here.