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Looks like there will be no 2008 Beacon Run-- at least not in March: MSG Entertainment bought the Theater today and will be doing renovations. Read on... MSG Entertainment takes over Beacon Theatre, plans renovation By VERENA DOBNIK Associated Press Writer November 15, 2006, 4:00 PM EST NEW YORK -- Manhattan's famed Beacon Theatre, host to icons from the Rolling Stones and the Dalai Lama to Pooh Bear and Piglet since its 1928 opening, has been acquired by MSG Entertainment, the company announced Wednesday. MSG plans to invest at least $10 million to restore the 2,800-seat theater on Broadway at West 74th Street, spokeswoman Mikyl Cordova said. MSG was not disclosing the financial details of the takeover from a group of private owners. MSG Entertainment, the sports and entertainment arm of Cablevision Systems Corp., already owns Madison Square Garden, the adjoining Theater at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, home of the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Rockettes. "The legendary Beacon Theatre takes its place alongside Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall as one of the most beloved and well-known venues in the world, and we consider its continued success under our stewardship a very important responsibility," said James L. Dolan, chairman of Madison Square Garden and president and chief executive officer of Cablevision, one of the nation's leading media, entertainment and telecommunications companies. The Art Deco-style Beacon, designed by architect Walter Ahlschlager, was built in 1928 as a venue for vaudeville acts, musical productions, dramas, opera performances and movies. It was designated a landmark building by the city's Landmarks Preservation Committee in 1979. Under MSG Entertainment management, the theater is to host more than 100 events, concerts and family shows in 2007. In January 2008, the Beacon will be closed for a restoration that is expected to take up to nine months. The adjacent Hotel Beacon will become the official hotel of the Beacon Theatre. Many of the greatest names in music have played the Beacon, including Jerry Garcia, Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, James Taylor and Queen. The Allman Brothers hold an annual spring concert series there. The Dalai Lama chose the Beacon Theatre as the site of his classes in 1999, while Bill Clinton ended his 60th birthday celebration at the Beacon last month with a private Rolling Stones concert.