The Fillmore Auditorium sits in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood inside a building with a surprisingly winding past. Constructed in 1907 as the Mammoth Roller Skating Rink, the structure later housed an early automobile manufacturer, an ice rink, a warehouse, and a nightclub before Live Nation converted it into the concert venue fans know today, which opened in 1999.
Since its 1999 debut as the Fillmore, the venue has hosted well over 1,900 acts and welcomed an estimated 2.7 million patrons through its doors. With a general-admission floor and balcony seating built around a distinctive art deco interior, it regularly ranks among the top-grossing and best-attended concert clubs in the United States.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Denver, Colorado (Capitol Hill)
- Type: Concert venue
- Building opened: 1907 (as Mammoth Roller Skating Rink)
- Reopened as Fillmore: 1999
- Capacity: About 3,900
- Owner/Operator: Live Nation Entertainment
- Famous for: One of America’s top-grossing and most-attended concert clubs
From Roller Rink to Rock Venue
Before it ever hosted a concert, the building at 1510 N Clarkson Street lived several other lives. It opened in 1907 as the Mammoth Roller Skating Rink, then from 1910 to 1917 housed the Fritchle Automobile & Battery Company, an early Denver electric-car manufacturer that built roughly 500 vehicles there. The space later served as an ice-skating and recreation center from 1935 to 1962, then sat as a warehouse before a stint as a nightclub. A major renovation between November 1998 and May 1999 transformed it into the Fillmore Auditorium, with further remodeling work starting in 2017.
Inside the Fillmore Experience
Today the Fillmore is a Live Nation-operated club known for its ornate chandeliers, tapestry-lined walls, and mix of general-admission floor space with a wraparound balcony that brings capacity to around 3,900. The venue also houses an office for the Bill Graham Foundation, a nod to the Fillmore brand’s San Francisco roots. Over the years it has drawn touring acts across genres and, notably, hosted the final performance of Denver ska band Five Iron Frenzy.
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Fillmore Auditorium FAQs
How old is the Fillmore Auditorium building in Denver?
The building dates to 1907, when it opened as the Mammoth Roller Skating Rink. It didn’t become the Fillmore concert venue until a renovation completed in 1999.
What is the capacity of the Fillmore Auditorium?
The venue holds about 3,900 people between its general-admission floor and balcony seating.
Who operates the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver?
Live Nation Entertainment owns and operates the venue, which has hosted more than 1,900 acts since reopening in 1999.
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Photo: Alan Islas / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.