Get Involved
Get Involved
Front entrance to music venue in East Austin Red River Cultural District, Empire Control Room.
  • Arts and Culture

Empire Control Room

Our Rally for Arts, Music, & Culture seeks to cultivate Austin’s soul and identity through real estate development projects that retain and create spaces that amplify our shared sense of acceptance and belonging. Secure ownership of two parcels to prepare for venue expansion across both.
Developer / Partners
Heard Entertainment, City of Austin
Project Goals
Securing the site as a long term live music venue, Positioning the location for future capital improvements supporting revenue and audience development.
Key Features
Located in the iconic Red River Cultural District, along Waller Creek in Downtown Austin, Revolving funds for the Austin Cultural Trust.
Arts, Music, & Culture

Empire Control Room: Project Facts

  • Arts and Culture
Location
606 E 7th St. Austin, TX 78701
Contributors
Austin Cultural Trust
Investment
$2.2M pilot loan to allow for venue expansion
Size / Scope
Approximately 15,000 sf, combining two parcels
Completion Date / Timeline
Agreement Signed Oct 1, 2024

Why It Matters

The deal ensures that the East Seventh Street club will remain a live music venue for the next 20 years.
With a loan from the Austin Cultural Trust, Heard Entertainment was able to acquire the adjacent site that would be expanded and operated as a consolidated live music venue.
Quiet Company Band Plays at Empire Control Room
Ownership of both properties allows Heard Entertainment to position the expanded footprint of one single location for future investments in renovations and capital improvements to provide infrastructure for a higher-quality experience.

Project Timeline

  • 2012
    Opening of Empire Control Room

    The opening of Empire Control Room as an indoor live music stage for an intimate show with a max capacity of 350 patrons.

  • 2014
    Opening of Empire Garage

    The opening of Garage, the largest of the Empire stages that can be transformed from an intimate closed space or a large outdoor venue, holding an audience of up to 1,050 patrons.

  • March 2022
    Call for Proposals

    Rally Austin reviews proposals and begins negotiations with Empire as part of the Cultural Trust project process.

  • October 2024
    Pilot Loan Agreement Executed

    Rally Austin inked a deal with Empire Control Room & Garage operators Heard Entertainment, that loaned the company $2.2 million to buy and expand the property.

Project Gallery
Empire Control Room

Videos

Related Links and Articles

    Get Involved.
    Stay Informed.

    Connect with Rally