It's fitting that the Palace Theatre is only a couple of blocks from Roy Wilkins Auditorium, since the former will probably blow the latter out of the water as a concert venue when it opens in March after a $15.6 million overhaul. It could ignite nightlife in downtown St. Paul, too.
Built in 1916, the Palace has been shuttered and deteriorating on the 7th Place walking mall since 1977. It promises much better acoustics (and aesthetics) than the notoriously ill-designed Wilkins. And with its 2,800-person capacity, the theater falls in the same in-between range as the Wilkins — smaller than an arena but bigger than clubs like the legendary First Avenue, whose staff will book and manage the place.
Two traits set the Palace apart from the historic theaters in Minneapolis that host occasional rock shows: a more artist-friendly booking policy, and a fan-friendly ground floor space without permanent seating. As many as 2,000 spectators will be able to stand, roam, dance or mosh while 800 more can grab seats in the balcony. It's a setup that mimics popular rock venues elsewhere, including the Wiltern in Los Angeles. Sounds foolproof, really.
Regina Spektor already has a March 26 date there, and more March and April concerts will be announced soon.
