The relocation marks a 10-year agreement with AEG, the operators of the L.A. Live complex where the Peacock Theatre is located. AEG will undertake substantial upgrades to the venue and its tech setup, incorporating bespoke design elements needed to accommodate the Oscars ceremony, according to multiple reports. The specific design elements have not been disclosed. According to an official statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor said the Academy looks forward to collaborating with AEG to make L.A. Live the perfect backdrop for the Oscars.
The Peacock Theatre has a capacity of around 7,000, roughly double that of the Dolby Theatre. Located adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena, home to the Lakers and Kings, the Peacock Theatre is part of the L.A. Live complex, formerly known as the Nokia and Microsoft Theater. Its expansive, open-air plaza contrasts with the Dolby Theatre's more enclosed Ovation Hollywood complex.
Historically, the Dolby Theatre has served as the consistent home for the Oscars since 2002, barring a scaled-down event at Union Station in 2021. The Academy specifically developed the Dolby Theatre to host the Oscars, and it will continue to do so for its final years on ABC, concluding with the 100th Academy Awards in 2028. Before this, the Oscars alternated between the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, which hosted from 1968 to 1986, and the Shrine Auditorium until the long-term move to Hollywood.
The Peacock Theatre brings experience hosting major awards shows, having hosted the Emmy Awards almost annually since 2008 and, more recently, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. L.A. Live offers numerous hotels, which multiple reports indicate are crucial for Oscar logistics.
This move raises several implications and unknowns. How the shift from ABC to YouTube will affect the production and viewership of the Oscars telecast is unclear, as is the impact on the Hollywood area's economy and tourism. Logistical challenges might arise from moving the ceremony to downtown Los Angeles, but details on how they will be addressed have not been confirmed. Multiple reports describe the decision to relocate as surprising.