Newly appointed Avant Gardner CEO Josh Wyatt has shared plans to improve venue safety, sound quality, and crowd management, among other things.
New year, new Avant Gardner. The New York City venue recently announced that Josh Wyatt would come onboard as their first-ever CEO, and the longtime entertainment and hospitality executive has now shared his 2025 plans for the space.
“Over the past few months I have developed a deep understanding of what this venue means to you,” Wyatt wrote in a statement shared on Instagram. “Simply put, Avant Gardner [which includes] The Brooklyn Mirage exists because of our guests, artists, music community, and the wider Brooklyn neighborhood that calls it home. As we look toward the future, it is our mission to take positive steps with the concept of transparency and responsibility as our north star.”
Wyatt went on to say that a “review of guest feedback” in tandem with “industry research” led him to focus on seven key areas of improvement before the venue reopens on May 1. Among them are a bigger dancefloor “with direct sightlines throughout the venue,” and an upgraded L-Acoustics line array sound system.
Avant Gardner also intends to increase the presence of venue staff and security as well as placing greater emphasis on hospitality and lounge areas. Attendee pickup and dropoff areas will also be reimagined, and additional Wi-Fi towers will improve cell reception in and around the venue.
Last but certainly not least, Avant Gardner has made safety a bigger priority, noting that “while we cannot control what happens beyond our venue,” patrons can expect additional patrol cars and ambassadors. In June 2023, The Brooklyn Mirage made headlines when one of its attendees was found dead in a nearby lumber yard.
Avant Gardner started out in 2015 as a party series taking place at different venues before New York City promoter Cityfox built its sprawling, 80,000-person complex the following year. The grand opening of The Brooklyn Mirage — its most well-known venue — came in 2017.
If Wyatt’s statement is to be taken at face value, 2025 could mark the beginning of a more accountable era for the space. “As the new leader of Avant Gardner I own our past mistakes as we continue to build toward a bright future, and ensure a safe, welcoming, and secure venue to dance and connect,” he wrote.
