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“The ultimate playground.” Get the latest on Village Green in Hoover
ByClaire Hancock
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Coming soon to Hoover’s Stadium Trace area, Village Green will be a new entertainment hub in the Birmingham area. Hear from Village Green’s managing partner, Wes Keith, about what to expect at Hoover’s first entertainment district.
What is Village Green?
In 2020, Hoover announced it would build a new entertainment district, the first of its kind in the city. Village Green, the new arts and concert hub, will be located beside Stadium Trace Village on Highway 150 in Hoover.
According to managaing partner Wes Keith, the new development will be a huge boost to the Hoover community, giving residents an arts district that will bring more people to the city. Village Green will also let Hoover residents stay in town to catch a show or enjoy a fun night out. One of his goals for the project is to create “the ultimate playground.”
“We wanted to create a new concept that appealed to everyone, as we like to call it ‘for kids of all ages’, from newborns to 100 year olds. We really wanted to dive in. I’ve been working in the music and festival space for the last 15 years. It’s all about customer experience. So, we wanted to put ourselves in everybody’s shoes, so to speak.”
Wes Keith
Village Green will begin construction in the next two months. Keith and his team’s goal is to have the Village Green open for guests by Spring 2022
What’s coming to Village Green
Village Green is expected to be a huge boost to Hoover’s entertainment options, featuring an 1,200-person amphitheater and “village” where other amenities will reside. The amphitheater will be 1.5-acres in total with a 35-by-40 foot covered pavilion that can serve as a stage, along Highway 150.
The Village will be home to a wide variety of fun things to do, with a focus on the arts. This portion of the project will be composed of two large buildings on the 2.5-acre complex.
Here’s a list of some of the many attractions coming to Village Green
- Artisan market with space for 20 vendors
- Local beer and wine garden
- Pizza and barbeque restaurants
- Playground and outdoor game area
- 500 square foot art gallery and studio
- 900 square foot studio with workout and event space
A Hoover-centric musical experience
Currently, Keith plans to bring a more intimate vibe to the concerts at Village Green, following a long trend in the music industry (and a global pandemic). Wes Keith’s work with the New Orleans Jazz Festival inspires him to bring both local and internationally-known artist to this arts hub in Hoover
The amphitheater is set to have two stages, the Village Stage and the Green stage. Keith also plans to have what he calls the “Alabama Homegrown Stage” as part of most performances to showcase local talent.
The amphitheater will also feature kid-friendly programming, like a playground with instruments they can play with while their guardians nearby enjoy the show.
“Ticketmaster did a report that the average ticket buyer travels 24 miles for a concert. And 10% of those or more travel over 100 miles. So with [Village Green], you’re bringing people to Hoover. No matter what the concert is, they’re now going through the artisan market. It truly is a little festival every day.
We’re showcasing what Hoover has to offer. Village Green will improve the quality of life for Hoover residents, to have this type of experience in their own backyard. And it will also bring people from around the world to come see what Hoover has here.”
Wes Keith
Here’s a look at some of the performances and events you can expect at Village Green:
- College Football Saturdays
- Expansive holiday programming
- Local and Alabama-based artists
- Nationally and internationally renowned artists
- Theatrical performances
- Super Bowl extravaganzas
- Symphony orchestras
What’s there now
The Village Green entertainment district will be adjacent to Stadium Trace Village, a hopping new part of Hoover. Stadium Trace has a growing number of food and shopping options, from Big Whiskey to Edgar’s Bakery.
See just a few of the new dining, shopping and entertainment options at Stadium Trace:
Check out this video of the full Stadium Trace Village and Village Green developments.
See how things got started with the Village Green with these past Bham Now stories:
- Hoover gets first Entertainment District at Stadium Trace Village
- Hoover seeks Entertainment District at Stadium Trace Village where Big Whiskey and Cajun Roux reside
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