Freebird Live is a popular music venue located in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The venue hosts concerts and live music shows featuring rock, country, pop, and other genres. Music fans are often curious about the size and capacity of Freebird Live, as this gives them a sense of what type of concert experience to expect. Specifically, many want to know how many people Freebird Live can accommodate for a show. This information can help determine if it is an intimate venue or a larger concert hall. In this article, we will provide details on the maximum capacity of Freebird Live Jacksonville and what factors go into establishing this number.
What Is Freebird Live?
Freebird Live is a multi-purpose entertainment venue that opened in 1999 in Jacksonville Beach, FL. The address of the venue is 200 N. 1st Street, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. The facility was specifically designed to host live music shows and concerts. Over the years, popular artists who have performed at Freebird Live include Snoop Dogg, 311, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Chris Stapleton, and Norah Jones.
Freebird Live is considered a mid-sized indoor concert venue. It features a general admission main standing room area as well as an upper balcony with reserved table seating. There is a large stage at one end of the rectangular-shaped hall with professional lighting and sound systems. The venue offers full service bars and typical concert concessions like t-shirts and beverages. Outside of concerts, Freebird Live is also available to rent for private events.
Ownership and Operations
Freebird Live is independently owned by Eric Lanzillotta, Mitch Varnes, and Robbie Hodes. It first opened in 1999 under the name The Ritz Theatre and Music Hall. The name was changed to Freebird Live in 2002 after Lynyrd Skynyrd’s famous song “Free Bird.” In its early years, the owners also opened a smaller connected venue called the Velvet Lounge next door to host more intimate shows. This second space closed in 2010.
Today, Freebird Live operates as a popular mid-sized concert and events venue in the Jacksonville area. It books national touring acts of all genres, focusing on rock, country, metal, jam bands, pop, and more. For emerging local artists, Freebird Live also hosts open mic nights and battle of the bands competitions.
Capacity Information
The maximum capacity of Freebird Live Jacksonville is approximately 2,000 people. Most general admission concerts and shows will sell tickets up to this limit to accommodate as many fans as possible. However, the capacity may also be less for certain events depending factors like stage and seating configuration.
Breakdown of Capacity
Here is a more detailed breakdown of the venue’s 2,000 person capacity:
- Main floor general admission standing room capacity: Around 1,500 people
- Upper balcony table seating capacity: Around 200-300 people
- Stage, backstage, and working staff: Approximately 200 people
The main floor without seating is able to hold the largest portion of attendees, giving space for about 1,500 people when packed tightly. The seated balcony holds a few hundred additional fans at tables. Factoring in the stage space and staff, the total reaches close to 2,000 people for most standard show configurations.
Flexible Capacity
It’s important to note that the capacity at Freebird Live is somewhat flexible and may vary below 2,000 for certain events:
- For reserved seating concerts, capacity may be lower.
- Special VIP or cabaret table seating also reduces standing room capacity.
- Private events may have guest lists and attendance limits.
- Performers may request special stage or floor configurations that limit occupancy.
So while 2,000 is the maximum, attendees at any given show may number from several hundred to up to full capacity, based on the event.
How the Capacity is Determined
Determining the safe total occupancy for a concert venue involves considering a range of factors. Here is an overview of how Freebird Live’s capacity numbers were established:
Fire Code Regulations
Local fire marshals and inspectors regulate maximum occupancy for safety. They issue certificates of occupancy with legal capacity limits based on square footage, use of space, configurations, number of exits, etc. Venues must comply with these fire codes. The permitted capacity provides the starting point for Freebird Live’s 2,000 person maximum.
Useable Floor Space
The architects and engineers designing Freebird Live laid out the main floor standing room space to optimize traffic flow and viewing angles. They utilized the full square footage to legally and safely fit approximately 1,500 attendees standing shoulder to shoulder. Upper seating areas were similarly fit into remaining available space.
Equipment and Furnishings
Elements like the stage, lighting grids, and bar and concession stands take up room. Movable furnishings like tables and chairs in the balcony can be adjusted to increase or decrease capacity as needed.
Ingress and Egress
Properly sized doors, corridors, aisles, and routes are required to allow patrons to safely enter and exit in a timely manner. These access points limit how many people can pass through and occupy the venue.
Staffing and Operations
Adequate security, bartenders, cleaners, technicians, coat checks, and other staff need workspace to serve guests. Certain backstage and operational zones are limited to employees only.
Performers’ Requests
Artists may request specific stage placements, catwalks, or seating blocked off for their sets. These can alter how many tickets get sold.
Experience and Adjustments
The owners have monitored flow and occupancy over years of operation. Small tweaks have optimized use of every inch possible to fine tune the 2,000 person maximum. Sellout shows validate filling the venue to safe capacity.
Typical Concert Layout
Here is a diagram showing a typical concert layout at Freebird Live with general admission standing room capacity:
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Stage |
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Standing Room Capacity: Approx. 1,500 people |
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Balcony Seating Capacity: 200-300 people |
This shows how a sold out general admission show would have about 1,500 fans packed into the open floor area. The upstairs balcony would hold a couple hundred more seated audience members. Some moving around occurs between these areas, but this layout provides a good visual of how 2,000 people fit inside Freebird Live.
COVID-19 Capacity Impacts
It’s important to note that capacity restrictions were temporarily reduced due to COVID-19 public health policies. This impacted all indoor event venues, including Freebird Live. Restrictions have now been lifted, allowing 100% capacity again. However, future pandemic-related occupancy limits could be reinstated if conditions change. Prospective concertgoers should check current capacity rules before attending events at Freebird Live or any other venues.
Conclusion
In summary, the standard maximum capacity of Freebird Live Jacksonville is approximately 2,000 people. This number applies to typical general admission concerts without seating on the main floor. The legal occupancy limit set by fire codes serves as the starting point, with extensive consideration given to physical space usage, layout, ingress/egress, operations, and experience.COVID-19 required temporary reductions, but full capacity is currently permitted. Knowing venue size and capacity helps music fans evaluate shows and experiences at Freebird Live. This mid-sized venue can accommodate anything from intimate club shows to packed crowds, providing flexible event options and atmospheres.
