local
Ravinia Festival's Hunter Pavilion near Chicago reopens after $70 million gut renovation
By Ronald Blum, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· July 9, 2026
· 4 min read
Brant Taylor walked onto the stage of the Ravinia Festival's Hunter Pavilion to rehearse for the first time since a $70 million gut renovation and noticed a huge difference.“I found that in the previous iteration of the shell, I was having to wear protective earplugs quite a lot,” the cellist sai...
Key takeaway ”The Chicago Symphony Orchestra's summer home, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of the city, starts its season Saturday night with chief conductor Marin Alsop leading a program with pianist Yunchan Lim and flutist Lizzo.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
San Antonio 's own performing arts venues can learn from the Ravinia Festival's Hunter Pavilion renovation. The $70 million overhaul prioritized acoustic improvements and musician comfort, resulting in a clearer and softer stage experience. This focus on enhancing the performance space is something that local venues, such as those in the Tobin Center or the Majestic Theatre, can consider when planning their own renovations or upgrades. The incorporation of accessibility features, like wider seats and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, is also noteworthy. As San Antonio continues to grow and develop its own cultural scene, it's worth paying attention to how other cities' venues balance preservation of iconic design with modernization and accessibility. The success of the Ravinia Festival's renovation may serve as a model for similar projects in San Antonio, where community leaders and venue managers can apply similar principles to create better experiences for both performers and audiences.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 9, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 4 min
Get more The San Antonio stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Brant Taylor walked onto the stage of the Ravinia Festival's Hunter Pavilion to rehearse for the first time since a $70 million gut renovation and noticed a huge difference.“I found that in the previous iteration of the shell, I was having to wear protective earplugs quite a lot,” the cellist sai...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 9, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Ronald Blum, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter