That's the Point

This is the new O2 venue in Dublin's Docklands, formerly known as The Point Theatre, which was formerly known as the Point Depot. So let me rephrase that: This is the new Point Depot in Dublin's Docklands. It was announced at the weekend that O2 were throwing something like €25 million at the Point's developers to have their name plastered all over it.

In fairness it's been a tough time for concertgoers and promoters since the Point closed down last year. Promoters have had to get inventive with their choices of venues - a huge tent in the Phoenix Park, gigs in Kilmaninham, and, of course, just sending the acts up the road to the Odyssey in Belfast. And giggers have had to put up with schlepping off the beaten track to watch gigs in fields and courtyards where the sound was so-so at best. At least in the old Point the sound was adequate. Barely adequate I suppose, but preferable to the muffled rumblings that was the sounds in the Phoenix Park lark Autumn. So, I guess it'll be good to have an enormous all-singing, all-dancing venue in the capital city again.

But how enormous will it be? In an interview with the Irish Times at the weekend, Harry Crosbie, the Property Developer who owns the Point and most of the Docklands said:

"I think that the experience of seeing a show in the new arena is going to up the ante for all the punters. The experience of going to a show is going to be vastly improved because the sightlines are perfect, because of its massive intimacy and because of the choice of catering, you can eat and drink around the venue.

I fail to understand why you want to stand in a wet field in broad daylight and you can’t see the light shows. I really believe that people will be stunned when they see the Point.”

Massive Intimacy. What's that then? He might as well have said "because of it's big littleness".

Also, perfect sightlines? Does that mean I won't have to put up with people behind me constantly complaining about my height? This is very good news indeed..

Interesting to see that Harry is still calling it the Point despite pocketing a hefty cheque from the sponsors. Hey - if Harry says it's the Point, that's good enough for me.

I wonder who they'll have in to open it when it launches later this year. Huey Lewis & The News were the first act to play in the old venue. I'm sure they'd be available.