A pleasant surprise 35 years later

[samhexum]

I finally got around to asking my sister if they liked the ABBA show:

Loved ABBA! Have something for you from it. We're definitely going when it comes to Vegas, and you're coming with us. 

[samhexum]

On 7/23/2024 at 10:45 AM, samhexum said:

I finally got around to asking my sister if they liked the ABBA show:

Loved ABBA! Have something for you from it. 

 

[samhexum]

Oh Yeah...

They brought me an ABBA shopping bag, too.

[samhexum]

My brother in law told me the only video they produced for the album, in which they had the one minute clip of the ABBAtars, was their test run, and Frida never blinks during it.

However, during the show, not only do they blink, they sweat. And each of them steps forward and talks to the audience at some point and he thinks AI is being used because it seems like they wait for the audience reaction to die down before they continue speaking. 

Edited August 8, 2024 by samhexum
because he's bored as hell

[samhexum]

On 4/27/2018 at 2:29 PM, E.T.Bass said:

Can ABBA music and ABBA holograms bring enough fans to fill the Hollywood Bowl? Will be interesting to see their plan.

They had to add two extra matinees a week and just over two years after opening they are still selling at 97% capacity for all shows, which Ticketmaster considers a sellout, so  maybe not the Hollywood bowl because they were never particularly big in America but selling out a 3000 seat arena for over two years qualifies it as a success, I would think.

On 4/27/2018 at 7:12 PM, purplekow said:

Enjoyed that a lot but i cannot imagine paying concert prices to see a prerecorded show with holograms. If it is a success, it will certainly change the way music concerts happen.

KISS sold their song catalog to a company partly owned by Bjorn for $300 million so they are going to be the next group presented in this manner. 

I would think the reasons you're not gonna get that many groups to do it are that some people are dead, some bad blood can't be overcome even for money, and there would be a lack of venues available that could accommodate the technology, since the arena in London was built specifically for this purpose and retrofitting a regular arena for it would probably be expensive and in the United States I don't think it would wind up being a big enough draw to be worth it. 

The only place that would work would be at the sphere in Las Vegas because that would accommodate the technology and also with tourists coming in from all over the world and new people visiting every week you could have a constant  stream of people who would want to see it.

Alas, I feel I never shall get to see it, though I'm one of the few people in the United States who can say I actually did see them live in 1979 at Radio City Music Hall and I still have the yellow T-shirt that I haven't been able to wear since probably , two years after I saw them live at Radio City Music Hall. 

Edited August 25, 2024 by samhexum
Because I have nothing better to do.

[samhexum]

On 4/28/2022 at 10:55 PM, samhexum said:

''I Am An A'', also known as ''A Simple Four Letter Word'' is a song written for the band's European and Australian tour, with lyrics written by all four members, jokingly depicting themselves as A, B, B and A. The song was never considered for a studio version, it was just used during concerts in 1977.

 

[samhexum]

So on Spotify, they have artists' favorite playlists.

Today they posted "Agnetha's 5 favorite ABBA songs!"

5.  When All Is Said and Done
4.  Slipping Through My Fingers
3.  Dancing Queen
2.  Our Last Summer
1.  The Winner Takes It All

I absolutely love two and five; I really like number four; I like three and one-which were their biggest hit and last US top 10 hit, respectively, by the way – but they ain't my favorites. 

She has said for years that the winner takes it all is her favorite and each time I saw her say it in an interview the interviewer seemed surprised because everyone has always assumed it would be painful for her because they recorded it right after she and Bjorn split, but she says she never thought of it as her story but because she could relate to the character's story she was able to sing it with great emotion. Frankly, I enjoy Cher's version just as much, I think.

And there is the whole "the gods may throw a dice" thing… that lyric drives me nuts because dice is plural so you can't throw A dice.

Edited September 13, 2024 by samhexum
Because it is 4:37 AM and it's either edit this post or take out the garbage.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Re:  ABBA Voyage

I wish they'd release the show's soundtrack. 

There are many songs done that are tweaked and remixed a bit, which I really enjoyed.  

My favorite was The Visitors with an absolutely massive club beat drop.  Tons of fun, the crowd loved it.

[samhexum]

On 9/13/2024 at 6:29 PM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Re:  ABBA Voyage

I wish they'd release the show's soundtrack. 

There are many songs done that are tweaked and remixed a bit, which I really enjoyed.  

My favorite was The Visitors with an absolutely massive club beat drop.  Tons of fun, the crowd loved it.

ABBA Voyage has contributed £1.40billion to the UK economy, according to new figures.

The virtual concert residency, which features digital avatars depicting the Swedish pop icons as they appeared in 1979, generated the sum between its opening in May 2022 to May 2024.

During that time, the live concert experience has attracted over two million visitors, with 31 per cent travelling from outside of the UK.

According to a new report by music, culture and creative economy consultancy Sound Diplomacy, attendees spent an average of £220 per day in London, as well as the cost of the ticket to the show at Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The most positive impact is felt in the local boroughs of Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest, with local restaurants and bars receiving £51.26million, commercial shops gaining £27.28million and accommodation £66.38million.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said: “ABBA Voyage has been a phenomenal success story for London, boosting our economy by more than £1bn and showing again why our capital is a global leader for music and culture.

“The fantastic show is an enduring testament to ABBA’s timeless popularity, as well as providing cultural, financial and social benefits. London is proud to host ABBA Voyage and we look forward to continuing to welcome fans from far and wide to see this unique concert as we build a better London for everyone.”

In October, it was reported that the show grossed more than £100million in 2023, according to documents filed in the UK with Companies House by Aniara, the company behind the shows.

A total of 1,097,597 visitors attended the shows across 2023, with an occupancy rate of 97.8 per cent. Revenue from ticket sales was £103,665,597, with a pre-tax profit of £6,065,402. This is more than double the £2,990,757 made in 2022, when the residency was on for seven months of the year.

Standard tickets for the shows, in which the avatars are supported by a 10-piece live band, range in price from £27.50 to £319.50.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Hearing that the show has benefited a lot of local business makes me especially happy.

With that said, I'm going back in April for my fifth visit to Voyage.  Really looking forward to it.

[+ ApexNomad]

I have to admit, I didn’t know what this was (yes, I know who ABBA is), but I had no idea what ABBA Voyage was about. I can’t believe it’s a 90-minute concert featuring them as avatars—looks pretty impressive. Is it creepy?

I watched a video and saw they even created a special theater for the show in East London. From what I understand, there are tiered ticket options—my vote would definitely be for the dance booth tickets—did I get that right? A private section with your own seats for you and your friends, space to dance, and a bartender? Now that sounds like fun!

[samhexum]

I'm sure everyone has been posting about this all day, but the world mourns the loss of Michael B. Tretow. 

 

He, of course, was ABBA's sound engineer.

 

[samhexum]

ABBA Voyage Plans Global Second Venue on Hell’s Kitchen’s 11th Avenue

Mamma Mia!! A long-dormant stretch of 11th Avenue may soon pulse with disco lights. W42ST has learned that the former Metropolitan Lumber/Daisy May’s/Penthouse Executive Club site at 613–623 11th Avenue is slated to become the second-ever home of ABBA Voyage.

The plan was quietly presented on Tuesday morning this week at the board meeting of the New York City Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA), where representatives from the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) sought approval for a major package of tax benefits intended to lure the production to New York rather than Las Vegas.

According to the developers’ filings, the partnership behind the project — Clinton PB Associates LLC, a joint venture of Extell Development and Princeton Real Estate Partners — intends to demolish the row of vacant buildings on the block and replace them with a 175,000-square-foot, 3,000-seat, purpose-built arena for Voyage. They propose a 30-year lease with the show’s US operator, Isagel LLC, and an anticipated opening in 2028. Over recent weeks, construction sheds have been erected around the site.

The incentive package presented to NYCIDA includes an 18-year building tax exemption valued at roughly $47.5 million and an additional $2.2 million land tax abatement, according to the cost/benefit analysis in the application materials submitted by the developers. In total, the relief approaches $50 million in foregone city taxes. The project’s overall budget is listed at $511.7 million, including a $39 million tenant contribution toward the venue’s buildout.

The developers and EDC argued that the incentives were essential to “recruit a European-based tenant to New York City, instead of Las Vegas.” The venue, mirroring the custom-built London arena, would deliver a “technology-driven concert experience” with extensive front- and back-of-house facilities and an underground parking garage.

The project would replace a 60,250-square-foot assemblage on 11th Avenue between W45th and 46th Streets — a site that has sat largely empty for more than a decade. Demolition is expected to begin in 2026, with occupancy slated for 2028.

The application forecasts 120 permanent jobs — roughly half full-time — with average hourly wages for full-time workers around $45. The developers predict the project would generate more than $75 million in new city tax revenue from operations and $81 million from employment over 18 years.

UPDATE: A spokesperson for the EDC told W42ST on Monday, November 24: “Last week, the New York City Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA)’s Board of Directors approved a tax incentive package to support the land acquisition and construction of a new 174,842 sq ft concert venue in Midtown West with an approximately 3,000-person capacity and innovative technological capabilities. The proposed anchor tenant is one of London’s major tourist attractions, ABBA Voyage. While several steps remain in the process, last week’s approval marks an important step forward to making New York City the home to ABBA Voyage’s second location and United States premiere, an expansion that would support tourism, create jobs and drive economic returns for New York City. We look forward to continued partnership with Extell and ABBA Voyage as we enter the next stage of finalizing the transaction.”

W42ST has requested comment from the developers regarding the tax incentives, the timeline, the Las Vegas competition and next steps for the site. This is a developing story — and we will update as details emerge. 

According to Broadway World, it came down to Sydney, Vegas and NYC.  NYC offered better tax breaks.

Edited November 29, 2025 by samhexum
for shits and giggles