The Belly Up Aspen
The Belly Up Aspen is a privately held, 450-capacity live music venue in Aspen, Colorado, founded in 2005 and owned by the Goldberg family. It serves live music enthusiasts and corporate/private event clients through ticketed concerts, private events, and a proprietary encrypted mobile-wallet ticketing platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersAspen, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Belly Up Aspen does
The Belly Up Aspen is a privately held, 450-capacity live music venue located at 450 S Galena Street near the base of Aspen Mountain in Aspen, Colorado. Founded in 2005 and owned by Michael Goldberg and his sons David and Danny, the venue has operated continuously for 20 years and is recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the 'Best Clubs in America.' It serves a primary audience of live music enthusiasts attending ticketed concerts and a secondary audience of corporate and private event clients booking weddings, galas, and brand events for groups ranging from 200 seated guests to 450 for full venue buyouts.
The core product is live music programming featuring world-class touring artists across genres (rock, country, electronic, hip-hop, folk, comedy), supported by state-of-the-art lighting and sound, two full bars with premium brands, a full kitchen with an in-house executive chef, reserved table seating, and coat-check service. Underpinning the consumer experience is a proprietary encrypted mobile-wallet ticketing platform (tickets.bellyupaspen.com) that delivers tickets via digital wallet rather than barcodes, QR codes, or PDFs, eliminating duplication. Distribution runs through the venue's own website calendar, email newsletter, and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube), supplemented by a merchandise line (Belly Up Collection), gift cards, a Locals Night community series, and professional production services for artists.
The revenue model combines transactional ticket sales, bar and food sales, private-event professional-services fees, merchandise one-time purchases, and gift card sales. The business is asset-heavy in a single physical venue, family-owned with no institutional capital, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed geographic expansion. Headcount is modest and includes operational roles (Executive Chef, Box Office Agent, Security, Bartender, Cocktail Server, Line Cook) plus a structured management layer (Owner/General Manager/VP of Events/Marketing Director/Controller/Production Manager/Night Manager). The strategic posture is one of brand-led operation of a premier, capacity-constrained live entertainment asset rather than multi-unit or franchise expansion.
The Belly Up Aspen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Belly Up Aspen
- Legal name
- The Belly Up Aspen
- Website
- https://bellyupaspen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Belly Up Aspen is a privately held, 450-capacity live music venue in Aspen, Colorado, founded in 2005 and owned by the Goldberg family. It serves live music enthusiasts and corporate/private event clients through ticketed concerts, private events, and a proprietary encrypted mobile-wallet ticketing platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Belly Up Aspen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Music Venue
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Venues & Venue Operators (Clubs, Theaters, Arenas) (MPAIAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL), Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD)
Keywords
Where The Belly Up Aspen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aspen
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Belly Up Aspen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for live music events. Tickets delivered via mobile wallet through proprietary platform.
- Private Events: Corporate events, weddings, and private parties. Venue accommodates up to 450 for private concerts, 200 for seated dinners.
- Bar Sales: Two full bars with premium brands operating during events.
- Gift Cards: Gift cards available for purchase through third-party platform.
- Food Service: Full kitchen with in-house chef for private events. Coat check service available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | General Admission |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Reserved Section |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Belly Up Aspen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Belly Up Aspen operates a 450-capacity live music venue at 450 S Galena St in Aspen, Colorado, hosting ticketed concerts with world-class touring artists and serving as a destination for live entertainment in a mountain resort setting. The venue also books the space for private events such as weddings, corporate gatherings, and seated dinners, supported by an in-house kitchen, two full bars, and a dedicated events team. Sales and venue access are managed through a proprietary mobile-wallet ticketing platform, with on-site box office sales on show nights.
Product overview
The Belly Up Aspen is a 450-capacity premier live music venue and events destination in Aspen, Colorado, operated by Michael Goldberg and his sons David and Danny since 2005. The core product is live music events featuring world-class artists across diverse genres including rock, country, electronic, hip-hop, reggae, and folk. Supporting products include a proprietary ticketing platform with secure mobile wallet technology, private event hosting for up to 450 guests with full catering and bar services, reserved table seating, the Belly Up Collection merchandise line, and gift cards. The venue also offers production services with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, coat check, and maintains a historical photo gallery archive spanning from 2005 to present. Recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Best Clubs in America, the venue has hosted notable acts including Kygo, Jimmy Buffet, LCD Soundsystem, The Killers, Lil Wayne, and Joe Walsh.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Belly Up Ticketing: Proprietary ticketing technology platform used by the venue for ticket sales and digital wallet ticket delivery.
Products and services
- Live Music Events Ticketed concerts at the venue's 450-capacity room featuring world-class touring artists across rock, country, electronic, hip-hop, reggae, and folk genres, with state-of-the-art lighting and sound.
- Private Events & Weddings Venue buyout and private event hosting services for weddings, corporate events, and private parties, accommodating up to 450 for private concerts and up to 200 for seated dinners, with full kitchen, in-house chef, and two full bars.
- Belly Up Ticketing Platform Proprietary online ticketing system that securely encrypts tickets in customers' mobile wallets, with no barcodes/QR codes/PDFs and tickets that cannot be duplicated; tickets auto-appear in accounts at 4pm MT the day before shows.
- Locals Night Recurring event series featuring local Aspen DJs and artists that promotes the local music community with discounted or special pricing for local residents.
- Belly Up Collection Merchandise collection offering branded apparel and items for purchase through a dedicated storefront.
- Gift Cards Gift cards available for purchase for use at the venue, sold through a third-party gift card platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 450-capacity intimate venue hosting major touring artists
Companies that use The Belly Up Aspen
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Belly Up Aspen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Belly Up Aspen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Food & WineminorCorporate client for private events at the venue
- ESPNminorCorporate client for private events at the venue
- VisaminorPayment processor partner
- BumbleminorCorporate client for private events at the venue
- Men's HealthminorCorporate client for private events at the venue
- Women's HealthminorCorporate client for private events at the venue
- Deutsche BankminorCorporate client for private events at the venue
- Aspen Gay Ski WeekminorEvent partner for Aspen Gay Ski Week activities
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Belly Up Aspen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Fillmore: Iconic intimate-capacity live music venue with a multi-city footprint and deep historical artist rosters. Directly comparable to Belly Up in scale, programming model, and brand-led positioning as a destination live-music room.
- 9:30 Club: Legendary mid-sized live music club in Washington DC (~1,200 capacity), recognized for hosting major touring artists in an intimate setting. Closely matches Belly Up's programming philosophy and ticketed-concert business model.
- Brooklyn Bowl: Live music venue combining concerts, full bar, and food service with multi-location operations. Highly comparable to Belly Up's blend of ticketed music, F&B revenue, and private-event capability.
- The Troubadour: Historic LA live music club known for intimate-capacity shows and a legendary artist alumni list. Mirrors Belly Up's brand equity, intimacy-driven pricing, and A-list artist demand profile.
- Tipitina's: Iconic New Orleans music venue operating as a destination live-music room with a long history of headline acts. Comparable to Belly Up in scale, cultural positioning, and reliance on a single flagship property.
- Music Hall of Williamsburg: Brooklyn-based intimate live music venue (~600 capacity) with strong touring-artist programming. Matches Belly Up's ticketed-concert model and premium positioning.
- Bowery Ballroom: Long-running NYC intimate live music venue (~575 capacity) with strong indie/rock artist rosters. Directly comparable in scale and ticketed-concert operating model.
- First Avenue: Historic Minneapolis live music venue and club operator with multiple rooms, comparable to Belly Up in single-market iconic positioning and ticketed concert programming.
- The Basement East: Nashville-based intimate live music venue (~600 capacity) hosting touring and local acts with bar/food service. Comparable in scale, F&B integration, and ticketed show model.
Broad incumbents
- House of Blues: Multi-city live music venue chain and concert promoter with larger-format rooms and broader geographic reach. Overlaps Belly Up in concert programming and F&B, but at significantly larger scale and broader market coverage.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Belly Up Aspen social profiles
Digital presenceThe Belly Up Aspen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Belly Up Aspen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The Belly Up Aspen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Belly Up Aspen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Belly Up Aspen
What does The Belly Up Aspen do?
The Belly Up Aspen operates a 450-capacity live music venue at 450 S Galena St in Aspen, Colorado, hosting ticketed concerts with world-class touring artists and serving as a destination for live entertainment in a mountain resort setting. The venue also books the space for private events such as weddings, corporate gatherings, and seated dinners, supported by an in-house kitchen, two full bars, and a dedicated events team. Sales and venue access are managed through a proprietary mobile-wallet ticketing platform, with on-site box office sales on show nights.
Is The Belly Up Aspen a public or private company?
The Belly Up Aspen is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Belly Up Aspen founded?
The Belly Up Aspen was founded in 2005.
Where is The Belly Up Aspen based?
The Belly Up Aspen is headquartered in Aspen, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Belly Up Aspen make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are private Events, bar Sales, gift Cards and food Service.
Who are The Belly Up Aspen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Fillmore, 9:30 Club, Brooklyn Bowl, The Troubadour, Tipitina's, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Bowery Ballroom, First Avenue and The Basement East. House of Blues is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Belly Up Aspen have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Belly Up Aspen.
What industry is The Belly Up Aspen in?
The Belly Up Aspen's product category is Live Music Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAFAB, Music Venues & Venue Operators (Clubs, Theaters, Arenas), with a secondary code of MPAGAIAB, Live Music Clubs & Venues. Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7900.