If you ask anyone about their trip to Sony Hall in the Times Square area of New York, whether it’s a good concert Intramural boxing night, they will always tell you about the long zigzag stairs that need to go down there. This unique venue is located in the basement of the Paramount Hotel on West 46th Street, right in the middle of famous Broadway theaters, home to many legendary performers.
In fact, if you go outside and look across the street and look to your left, you’ll see the Richard Rodgers Theater, where the record-breaking musical “Hamilton” took place. And the Hamilton Gift Shop is right next to Sony Hall.
Fight fans might not appreciate this very much, but the space occupied by Sony Hall was once a popular nightclub around the world. It’s called “Billy Rose’s Diamond Horseshoe,” and it featured dancers all at least 6 feet tall, which made a significant mark on it. Rose is, of course, a well-known Broadway producer who was immortalized in “Funny Girl” as the husband of legendary comedian Fanny Brice (for which Barbra Streisand won an award. Oscars). Rose hired an unknown Gene Kelly as a choreographer, and that started Kelly’s path to stardom.
As “On Golden Pond” moved from theater to theater on Broadway, it landed at Sony Hall, what was known as the Century Theater at the time. It’s a Tony Award winner. Various other events were held there, including a 50th anniversary luncheon for Vanity Fair. And there was a unique “Queen of the Night” production (meaning it removed barriers and engaged audiences), which lasted two years.
In recent years, Blue Note Entertainment Group acquired the site, then a partnership with Sony – including the naming rights – was settled. More than $20 million went into the restoration, which preceded the “Queen of the Night” run. That’s not to say it doesn’t have the feel of an “old-school” nightclub, because it does. But it’s also special and different, and has a technological advantage; whatever the latest in audio and video, Sony Hall has it.
Boxing Insider Promotions started hosting boxing events last August with an amateur gig. In October, they switched to pro. And they’ve been going strong ever since. The consistency in their efforts is helping Sony Hall become one of those classic boxing showcases where atmosphere and atmosphere become part of the performance.
And those shows will keep coming. Boxing Insider has scheduled a number of days at Sony Hall, and as you can see, there will be events for consecutive months from August to October.
Come and join us!
