Newport Music Hall sits at 1722 North High Street in Columbus, Ohio’s University District, directly across from Ohio State University’s Ohio Union. The building first opened its doors on December 21, 1921, as The State Theater, making it one of the oldest continuously operating concert venues in the country.
Over the following decades the room changed hands and names more than once. In the 1970s owner Hank Locanti turned it into The Columbus Agora Theater & Ballroom, and in 1984 PromoWest Productions purchased the venue and renamed it Newport Music Hall. Much of the original ballroom architecture and decor remains intact, and the venue is often billed as ‘America’s Longest Continually Running Rock Club.’
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 1722 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio
- Type: Live music club
- Opened: December 21, 1921
- Capacity: About 1,700
- Owner: PromoWest Productions (since 1984)
- Famous for: America’s Longest Continually Running Rock Club
From The State Theater to Newport Music Hall
The venue’s century-plus history runs through several eras of Columbus nightlife. It opened in 1921 as The State Theater, later became The Columbus Agora Theater & Ballroom under Hank Locanti in the 1970s, and was rebranded Newport Music Hall after PromoWest’s 1984 purchase. Much of the original ballroom decor has been preserved through these transitions, giving the room a historic feel that’s rare among American rock clubs still in active use.
A Stage for Legends
Newport Music Hall has hosted an outsized list of major acts for a room its size, including Queen in 1975, AC/DC in 1977, Metallica in 1985, and repeated stops by the Ramones between 1985 and 1994. Twenty One Pilots, who formed in Columbus, have returned to play the room multiple times, including dates in 2010, 2011, 2017, 2021, and 2024. The venue draws an estimated 150,000-plus guests a year, sustaining its reputation as a proving ground for touring bands near Ohio State’s campus.
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Newport Music Hall FAQs
Where is Newport Music Hall located?
It’s at 1722 North High Street in Columbus, Ohio’s University District, directly across from Ohio State University’s Ohio Union.
When did Newport Music Hall open?
The building opened on December 21, 1921, originally as The State Theater, before later becoming The Columbus Agora Theater & Ballroom and then Newport Music Hall in 1984.
What is the capacity of Newport Music Hall?
The venue holds about 1,700 people.
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Photo: Ɱ / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.