RICHMOND, Va. – Last year’s popular New Year’s Eve celebration on Brown’s Island will move indoors at the VCU Siegel Center to welcome 2016.
Organizers Jimmy Budd and Anthony Harris have decided to put four walls around the event, as Richmond raises the roof and prepares for the big ball drop to usher in 2016 (the year of the Fire Monkey).
Though last year’s event made history as the first New Year’s Eve celebration on Brown’s Island and around 10,000 attended, (Police estimated 8,000 and organizers said 14,000) it was chilly.
Richmond became accustomed to New Year’s Eve celebrations outdoors, with the beloved – but halted– Carytown ball drop, but this year’s unprecedented El Nino territory seems like a good time to move a big party indoors.
This year it won’t be temperatures revelers need to worry about as they head to the Siegel Center – it will be getting a ticket.
Last year thousands braved the cold at Brown’s Island.
The capacity for the event is 6,000, and organizers believe they will sell out.
The production will be the same format as last year; a giant open space with music and performance.
Trap duo Gents & Jawns, who are on the Los Angeles-based record label Mad Decent –spearheaded by Diplo – will headline. Mass FX, Doddie Braza and Hoody will also perform.
“The countdown will stem from the LED Cylinder Light Tower that’s being linked from the middle of the basketball court up to the LED Panels hanging from the ceiling that you see during the basketball games,” said organizer Jimmy Budd.
There will be a designated smoking area outside of the building, for smokers.
For drinkers, there will be beer, wine and liquor at the event.
And for eaters, there will be food available for purchase from Ovations Food Services that handles food services at the stadium.
Last year thousands braved the cold at Brown’s Island.
Get your party on from 8 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 (four-day weekend, wut?!).
Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door. The event is 21 and over only.
You can purchase tickets at http://www.rvanye.co/.
