Spring 2028 Opening to Bring All Ages Shows Back to Downtown Corona for the First Time in Twenty Years
Corona, CA (October 26, 2026)—Leading independent entertainment and hospitality group Knitting Factory Entertainment (KFE) and Irvine-based developer Ground Review yesterday announced a deal with the City of Corona to build and operate a new all-ages live music venue in Downtown Corona, with a targeted opening of Spring 2028. Following extensive, ground-up construction, the yet-to-be-named space will include a cocktail bar and small bites-forward restaurant and feature a 800+ capacity main room, with KFE’s live music division Knitting Factory Presents exclusively handling talent buying duties.
For KFE, this represents a return to Riverside County following its partnership with the art and music festival Desert Daze, held at Lake Perris State Recreation Area in Moreno Valley from 2018 to 2022. While KFE leverages extensive industry connections and deep-rooted relationships with artists at the national level, its strategic leadership has developed a specialty in Southern California. This route includes a partnership with The Regent Theater in Downtown Los Angeles; talent buying duties for a soon-to-be announced venue in the San Gabriel Valley; and operation of Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace in the High Desert west of Joshua Tree.
“Knitting Factory has been in the SoCal market for over 30 years,” says KFE CEO & President Morgan Margolis. “We’re thrilled to work with the City of Corona in supporting a new, very much needed music venue. Our goal is to bring in more local jobs and an exciting music scene to the Downtown corridor.”
Senior Vice President and Head Talent Buyer James Irvine plans to curate genre-agnostic lineups, establishing a venue that is both artistically compelling and commercially successful. This dual focus ensures that audiences experience engaging and innovative performances while maintaining a commitment to the growth and development of the local and regional music community. Through this approach and dedication to excellence, KFE hopes to uplift the Inland Empire’s entertainment landscape, fostering cultural exchange and creating memorable experiences for fans and artists alike.
“We’re honored to help bring a venue back to Downtown Corona,” says Irvine. “This city built a reputation on punk, metal, and hardcore, and while we’ll be expanding into a wider range of genres, we take that history seriously. As an independent promoter, Knitting Factory is here to build a solid home for touring & local artists that respects what came before.”
This announcement follows an October 21 City Council meeting with KFE principals and City of Corona officials where the City Council voted unanimously to approve the deal (agenda HERE; video HERE). The City of Corona is an historic, vibrant, culturally diverse community located in the heart of Southern California at the junction of the 91 and 15 freeways with a population of over 160,000 residents. A city whose heritage spans more than a century, its limits encompass 39.2 square miles.
About Knitting Factory Entertainment
Knitting Factory Entertainment (KFE), since 1987, is a dynamic and innovative independent entertainment company renowned for its multifaceted approach within the live music industry. With a diverse portfolio that spans live music venues, concert production, talent management, hospitality, media, and record labels, KFE has established itself as a significant player in shaping the cultural landscape. Recognized as one of the top 50 concert promoters worldwide, the company collaborates with thousands of artists and bands, producing and promoting a broad spectrum of concerts and private events across the nation.
Knitting Factory Entertainment
City of Corona
# # #