Albuquerque's newest concert hall recently opened, adding to the growing list of entertainment possibilities being offered in the northeast part of the city.
The finishing touches have been completed at Revel, billed as a one-stop-shop entertainment center, featuring numerous restaurants and bars. It adds to a location being revitalized by the opening of Top Golf in February 2021 and a planned go-kart track that is also in the works.
"This location has been a mess for almost a decade and a half," Johnathan Condit told KOAT when Top Golf opened. "I hate to see the waterpark go from years ago, but it's so cool that something's going to be established that's going to bring the community together."
Revel owner Daniel Chavez is excited about his new entertainment facility, which offers concerts and locations to watch major sporting events.
"You stay you enjoy the show,” Chavez told KOAT. “You can walk back and forth, get food, bring it into the venue afterward. We're not going to rush everybody out the door.”
Revel holds just under 3,000 attendees, and the space can also be rented for trade shows or private events. Chavez, who was raised in the area, is happy he can help make the area an entertainment destination.
"I used to play in these dirt lots when I was a kid, riding my bike up here, shoot BB guns and have fun right where we're standing which is really cool for me," he said. "There's a kart racing place that's in the works right now, and between the three of us, I think this is going to become a real entertainment destination."
The 97,000-square-foot indoor go-kart track was approved last month by the City's Environment Planning Commission. It will be located near I-25 and Montaño.
Sherman McCorkle, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce vice chairman, told KOAT that when Top Golf was first approved, the goal was to make northeast Albuquerque an exciting area.
"If you look at Phoenix and Dallas, they all have entertainment districts," he said. "This is just the beginning of hopefully something that is going to grow much more than what we're talking about today."