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For the past decade, the Brooklyn Mirage, a 80,000-square-foot behemoth of a venue, has shaped the city's nightlife, hosting everything from multi-room Boiler Room festivals to massive techno raves.
For the past several months, the Mirage has remained closed, which it does every winter in preparation for the summer season. Today, it’s announced that it is reopening on May 1, but with a major gag: it’s been spending the past several months giving the venue a facelift.
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Inspired by the grandeur of the world's opera houses, the new Mirage will incorporate completely new technology and design elements that will make it feel like a totally different venue. The most noticeable addition will be a monumental timber structure that will measure 197 feet by 164 feet, located 65 feet above the crowd, making it one of the largest structures of its kind in the U.S.
Many know the Brooklyn Mirage for its enormous 270-degree LED video wall, which displays graphics that enhance performances and DJ sets, but we do have to address an elephant in the room. In the past few years, there's been a few high-profile incidents of partygoers who left the Brooklyn Mirage and were later found dead. The venue is addressing and tightening its safety measures, which will include increased new lighting, signage, rideshare drop-off zones, and cell service enhancement.
In case you missed it, we wrote a practical guide to staying safe while partying in NYC.
Going forward, instead of regular LED lights, the venue will have a "fully kinetic shutter system," which can open and close to make the venue look like there is no screen at all, paying homage to the first iteration of the venue, which had no screen at all. The sound system will be upgraded as well, with 100 precision-calibrated speakers and subwoofers throughout the venue to ensure a perfectly balanced sound.
The upgrades will create a venue where no two shows will look or feel exactly the same. “The Brooklyn Mirage has always been a place to dance, to lose oneself in moments of pure, electrifying energy. It’s a space where people, community, and culture converge to create unforgettable memories,” said Josh Wyatt, CEO of Avant Gardner, in a statement. “When we decided to rebuild the venue from the ground up, we aimed to honor its legacy while expanding the dance floor, creating immersive side-quest spaces, and pushing the boundaries of music, art, and technology. This is not just an upgrade—it’s a rebirth.”
Finally, the Mirage is launching a New Media Art Program, for which they'll invite international and local artists to showcase their work on-site. There's an exciting lineup to look forward to this summer, which will include Peggy Gou, Cloonee, Anjunadeep, Artbat presenting Upperground, Cityfox, Elrow, Amelie Lens presenting Exhale, Boiler Room, Sammy Virji, and more. Check out all its upcoming events on its website.