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Upcoming Events at The Highdive

Situated in the heart of downtown Champaign, The Highdive’s storied address at 51 East Main Street is now home to The Venue CU, a sophisticated event space known for intimate performances and versatile room setups. With a seated capacity around 400 in its current configuration, The Venue CU preserves the intimate vibe of The Highdive era while offering modern conveniences for concerts, weddings, and gatherings. Whether you’re catching a local act or planning a reception, this downtown anchor combines accessibility with a historic sense of place.

Below you’ll find practical details on seating, parking, transit, and nearby hotels and dining to help you plan a smooth visit. We’ve highlighted trusted hotel and restaurant partners to make booking easier, because at Gold Coast Tickets, you’ve got a guy who can help secure your seats and reservations.

Venue details: The Highdive—renamed The Accord in 2016, closed in 2017, then transformed into The Venue CU. The space now comprises two main rooms, the Varsity Ballroom and the Main Street Lounge, offering flexible seating for diverse events. The downtown Champaign location puts you within easy reach of city amenities, with ample parking options, solid public transit access, and a handful of nearby hotels and eateries to complement your night out.

Seating and Venue Layout

Current capacity: approximately 400 seated (The Venue CU configuration)
Two main rooms: Varsity Ballroom and Main Street Lounge
Flexible seating arrangements for concerts, private events, and receptions

Parking

Downtown Champaign uses paid metered parking, with premium downtown rates in effect on most days
Free parking zones: weekends and city holidays
Nearby lots/decks: Hill Street Deck, University & Market Lot, and additional city-managed spaces

Transit & Getting There

Served by Champaign-Urbana MTD buses
Downtown routes connect to Illinois Terminal for broader regional travel
Proximity to major roads and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks for easy walking access

Nearby Hotels & Dining (Affiliate Partners)

If you’re looking to plan an event or reserve seats for a show at The Highdive / The Venue CU, we’ve got you covered. Our team can help you navigate the space, seating options, parking logistics, and nearby hotel and dining arrangements to ensure your night goes smoothly.

Good to know

Seating, Parking & Venue Information

Location: 51 East Main Street, Champaign, IL 61820 (downtown Champaign).
Historic capacity: about 450 patrons (as The Highdive in the early 2000s).
Renaming history: The Highdive → The Accord in January 2016; The Accord closed April 30, 2017; space later rebranded as 51 Main and ultimately The Venue CU.
Current use: The Venue CU operates at the same address as an upscale urban wedding and event space with a seated capacity around 400.
Seating/chart: The Venue CU lists a 400-seat capacity (Cvent); spaces include two main rooms (Varsity Ballroom and Main Street Lounge).
Parking: Downtown Champaign has paid meters (premium downtown rates); parking is free on weekends and city holidays; multiple lots/decks available (Hill Street Deck, University & Market Lot, etc.).
Transit: Served by Champaign-Urbana MTD; downtown routes connect to Illinois Terminal; public transit widely available in the area.
Nearby hotels: Hotels such as Hyatt Place Champaign-Urbana and TownePlace Suites Champaign Urbana/ campus area are close to the venue area.
Notable events hosted: The Highdive hosted many local/national acts (e.g., Great Cover Up; Abi Reimold; The Districts; Creed Bratton’s performances during The Accord era).

The Highdive Tickets