When the City of Toronto first started designating Heritage Sites in 1973, Massey Hall was one of the first on the list. No wonder. Before Neil Young’s 2014 show at Massey, the Canadian musical legend was told of the coming renovations. That night he warned the crowd, “Don’t let them change this place.” Emotions run high with a beloved institution like Massey Hall, which is why the revitalization’s mandate is to improve everything in the Hall, while being careful not to change the unique character, look and feeling one gets from being there, preserving the special, intimate relationship between artist and audience that Massey Hall is known for is paramount. Some necessary changes are obvious to anyone who’s ever set foot inside. There are no elevators, which makes for a long haul up to the third-floor gallery, especially if you have mobility issues. A wire mesh has covered the ceiling since 1968. The stairwells are looking cracked. Most of the seats have not been replaced in 70 years. Bathroom lineups in the basement and the gallery can be frustrating. The venue is licensed throughout, however the two licensed areas— Centuries bar in the basement, and the balcony lounge—are often packed during intermission. (Centuries’ capacity is 175; the balcony lounge is 60. The venue seats 2,753.)
If you’re drinking on the balcony, you need to descend two flights of stairs to access the basement bathrooms. Oh, and the iconic sign out front and century-old stonework could use a little TLC. Surely even the most conservative, preservationist fan of Massey Hall would recognize all the above as problematic.
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Ahead by a century