Live entertainment in downtown Springfield
CTRL
Founder, Aden Waters
Built as a production environment, not a room with a sound system.
- 40+
- People on payroll
- 25+
- Staff on a major night
- $2M+
- Projected annual gross revenue
CTRL is a production-led nightclub at 311 S Patton Avenue in downtown Springfield, built as an immersive live environment. Permanent premium sound, custom-mapped LED visuals, synchronized lighting, lasers and event effects are integrated into the customer experience rather than bolted on for a night. Aden Waters founded CTRL and operates the venue alongside operations partner Jake Hildenbrandt. It opened in February 2026 in a building a previous operator had vacated, and now carries more than 40 people on payroll with 25 or more working across a typical major night. The operational problem it sets is holding that standard on every night it opens — harder than it sounds when the product is an evening rather than an object.
Aden Waters founded CTRL and operates the venue alongside operations partner Jake Hildenbrandt.
“Every night has to meet a certain level. Every interaction matters. Nothing is left up to chance.”
Press