The Starwood Amphitheatre is no more.

The owner of the Antioch outdoor music venue has abruptly shut it down in anticipation of selling its property to as-yet-unidentified real estate developers.

"We can confirm that we are in serious discussions with a buyer for the Starwood Amphitheatre," said John Vlautin, vice president for communications with Starwood owner Live Nation Inc., in a statement issued today. "We have made the decision to close the amphitheatre pending the completion of the deal."

Vlautin said "several" jobs at Starwood have been eliminated. He stressed that Live Nation’s Nashville office will not be affected by the sale of the amphitheatre and that the company, which is headquartered in Los Angeles, "will continue to promote shows in the Nashville market through third party venues, as we have done for many years."

Live Nation disclosed in its most recent quarterly report to shareholders, issued in November, that it would be seeking to sell off "a small number of venues" in order to focus its operations "in the top markets globally."

A generation of Middle Tennesseans has grown up attending rock and country shows at Starwood. But not all among its former clientèle will have entirely fond memories of Starwood. Journalist Kay West spoke for many in 1998 after readers of Nashville Life magazine chose the venue as the "worst place to hear live music" in a poll of local bests and worsts. West's entry read:

"Starwood, dear Starwood. How do we hate thee? Let us count the ways.

"We hate the lousy drive on the ever-under-construction I-24. We hate the immobile stream of overheating cars in terminal holding pattern. We hate your exorbitant parking fees. We hate your Gestapo seize-and-destroy security force. We hate your carnival sideshow on the plaza. We hate your rip-off concessions. We hate your stinking bathrooms. And, come to think of it, we’re pretty damned sick of your music, too. Hank Williams Jr. again? Yawn."

Notwithstanding that sentiment, the end of Starwood is a major loss to Nashville music lovers.

While Nashville has been unable to land such "supergroups" as '80s legends "The Police" — who announced yesterday that would be stopping in for Bonnaroo near Manchester this summer — one could count on acts ranging from Jimmy Buffett to Brad Paisley to fill the seats at the Antioch venue.

Recently, the Grammy-winning group Red Hot Chili Peppers sold out the Gaylord Entertainment Center, as has happened for the annual Amy Grant Christmas show, but the loss of Starwood will leave a void for entertainment venues in the area that cater to crowds numbering somewhere between the audiences of local clubs and those of the arena.