Gibson Amphitheatre to Close

CHANGE OF VENUE: L.A.'s Gibson Amphitheatre will close following the expiration of its lease in September, to accommodate Universal Studios Hollywood's Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A farewell show celebrating the venue is reportedly in the works. Anyone with tickets to shows scheduled after September 2013 should hang onto them, according to a Live Nation statement that says the company "is currently working on moving these events into other venues and will notify fans when there is more information. If a show cannot be moved then fans will receive a full refund." The 6,178-seat Gibson opened in 1972 as the outdoor Universal Amphitheatre and was enclosed in 1982 for acoustic reasons; Gibson acquired naming rights in 2005. Artists such as Frank Sinatra, The Eagles, Johnny Cash, Miles Davis and Fleetwood Mac, an array of top comics, several U.S. Presidents, a Pope and the Dalai Lama have appeared there. No confirmation yet as to whether KROQ's Acoustic Christmas will be held in the lobby of UMPG. (4/24p)