Editing Hammersmith Apollo (section)

==History==
Designed by Robert Cromie, who also renovated the [[Prince of Wales Theatre]],<ref name="site" /> in the [[Art Deco]] style, it opened in 1932 as the '''Gaumont Palace''',  with a seating capacity of nearly 3,500 people, being renamed the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962. It has had a string of names and owners, most recently [[Anschutz Entertainment Group|AEG Live]] and [[Eventim UK]].<ref name="hmv-sells">{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5b844402-ab4b-11e1-a2ed-00144feabdc0.html|title=HMV sells Hammersmith Apollo for £32m|work=Financial Times|date=31 May 2012|access-date=27 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theater/3774/|title=Hammersmith Apollo|publisher=Cinema Treasures|access-date=14 October 2012}}</ref> It became a Grade II [[listed building]] in 1990. The venue was later refurbished and renamed '''Labatt's Apollo''' following a sponsorship deal with [[Labatt Brewing Company]] (1993 or 1994).

In 2002, the venue was again renamed, this time to '''Carling Apollo''' after [[Carling]] brewery struck a deal with the owners, US-based [[Clear Channel Communications|Clear Channel]] Entertainment, now [[IHeartMedia]]. The event was marked by rock band [[AC/DC]] playing a one-off concert. All 5,000 tickets sold out in 4 minutes. In 2003, the stalls seats were made removable and now some concerts have full seating whilst others have standing-only in the stalls. In the latter format, the venue can accommodate around 5,000 people. The venue's listing was upgraded to Grade II* status in 2005. In 2006, the venue reverted to its former name, the Hammersmith Apollo. In 2007, the original 1932 Compton pipe organ, still present from the building's days as a cinema, was restored. The building was then bought by the MAMA Group.

On 14 January 2009, a placing announcement by [[HMV]] revealed that by selling additional shares, the company would raise money to fund a joint venture with the MAMA Group, to run eleven live music venues across the United Kingdom, including the Hammersmith Apollo. As a result, the venue was named '''HMV Apollo''' from 2009 until 2012. Other venues purchased include The Forum in London's Kentish Town, the Birmingham Institute and Aberdeen's Moshulu.<ref name="HMV to snap up some Zavvi stores">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7829339.stm|title=HMV to snap up some Zavvi stores|publisher=BBC News|date=14 January 2009|access-date=15 January 2009}}</ref> The venue was sold by HMV Group in May 2012 to [[AEG Live]] and [[CTS Eventim]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18284304|title=Hammersmith Apollo in London sold by HMV to Stage C|publisher=BBC|access-date=31 May 2012|date=31 May 2012}}</ref> In 2013, the venue was closed for an extensive refurbishment which was carried out by architect Foster Wilson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/foster-wilson-completes-hammersmith-apollo-revamp/5059558.article|title=Foster Wilson completes Hammersmith Apollo revamp|year=2013|publisher=bdonline.co.uk|access-date=27 August 2013}}</ref> The venue reopened as the '''Eventim Apollo''' on 7 September 2013, with a concert performance by [[Selena Gomez]].<ref name="site">{{cite web|url=http://ticketnews.eventim.co.uk/eventim-apollo/|title=Introducing the Eventim Apollo|year=2013|publisher=Eventim Ticketnews|access-date=6 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908233937/http://ticketnews.eventim.co.uk/eventim-apollo/|archive-date=8 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/new-look-hammersmith-apollo-unveiled/055979|title=The Eventim Apollo is unveiled|year=2013|work=Music Week|access-date=6 September 2013}}</ref>