Making a move from the Shrine Auditorium to Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in downtown, the Emmys declared their new home for at least 10 years starting this year when the show airs on ABC, September 21.

Academy chairman John Shaffner said the Emmy's had outgrown the Figueroa Blvd. space and that the downtown theatre was "appealing." Ten years ago, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences moved the show away from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for the same growth reasons.

However, "a complete shift of the Emmys to downtown may not happen for at least two years, anyway," reports Variety. "L.A. Live remains under construction, with much of the complex -- including a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, two ballrooms and several restaurants -- not slated to open until 2010.

Eric Richardson at blogdowntown noted that "the move is a great highlight of the energy that a venue like the Nokia can create for other spaces Downtown."

Drawing of LA Live from their website