Leicester Tigers launch bid to stage top pop acts at Welford Road

[davieG]

Some of the biggest concerts ever seen in the city could take place at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road ground next summer.

The Mercury can exclusively reveal that the club has hired a promoter to attract some of the rock and pop world's biggest names.

Four as yet un-named bands and artists have already showed a strong interest in the chance to play in front of up to 17,000 fans at the ground.

The newly-built Caterpillar Stand can hold around 10,000 spectators while another 7,000 could be accommodated on the pitch and lower tier of the Alliance and Leicester Stand, and executive boxes.

The stage would be set up on the Crumbie Terrace or at the ground's clubhouse end.

Stadium operations manager Charles Rayner, who helped bring the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bon Jovi to Coventry City's Ricoh Arena when he worked there, is working closely with the promoter.

He said: "We are talking to the council's building control and the safety advisory group (made up of groups such as local government and emergency services) to determine the capacity we can use at Welford Road.

"There is a niche target audience of around 15,000 to 17,000, which will enable us to bring in some very well-known artists and groups."

Mr Rayner first announced plans to hold concerts when the Caterpillar Stand was nearing completion last summer – taking match-day capacity from 17,500 up to 24,000.

He said the promoter had already been retained by Tigers to find out who which bands will be touring.

Mr Rayner said: "It is becoming more and more detailed and, as the ground grows over the next few years, the audience can grow and we could eventually get to the 40,000 mark we talked about some months ago.

"Before we do anything, there are, of course, a lot of talks to take place with the local residents and neighbouring organisations such as the Leicester Royal Infirmary and the environmental health department.

"But we have provisional dates in our diary already for next summer to make sure that the stadium is available and ready when we need it."

He said the city's park-and-ride services could help with parking.

Prue Almond, of music promoters International Talent Booking, in London, thought the stadium could be a "great outdoor summer venue".

Although not involved in the plans, she said: "It's the kind of venue we would definitely have a look at for some of our bigger shows.

''With a capacity of 17,000, it puts it on a par with the O2 in London.

''It's bigger than the Nottingham Arena, and slightly larger than LG arena at Birmingham's NEC.

"So the kind of bands you'd be looking at there is the bigger, well known acts – like Pink and Take That – bands and artists with a big production that work well in a stadium setting," she added.

[Flynny]

Pink and Take That? I can hardly contain myself.

[Finchy]

It would seem very odd having a concert there.

[Jay]

Some of the biggest concerts ever seen in the city could take place at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road ground next summer.

The Mercury can exclusively reveal that the club has hired a promoter to attract some of the rock and pop world's biggest names.

Four as yet un-named bands and artists have already showed a strong interest in the chance to play in front of up to 17,000 fans at the ground.

The newly-built Caterpillar Stand can hold around 10,000 spectators while another 7,000 could be accommodated on the pitch and lower tier of the Alliance and Leicester Stand, and executive boxes.

The stage would be set up on the Crumbie Terrace or at the ground's clubhouse end.

Stadium operations manager Charles Rayner, who helped bring the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bon Jovi to Coventry City's Ricoh Arena when he worked there, is working closely with the promoter.

He said: "We are talking to the council's building control and the safety advisory group (made up of groups such as local government and emergency services) to determine the capacity we can use at Welford Road.

"There is a niche target audience of around 15,000 to 17,000, which will enable us to bring in some very well-known artists and groups."

Mr Rayner first announced plans to hold concerts when the Caterpillar Stand was nearing completion last summer – taking match-day capacity from 17,500 up to 24,000.

He said the promoter had already been retained by Tigers to find out who which bands will be touring.

Mr Rayner said: "It is becoming more and more detailed and, as the ground grows over the next few years, the audience can grow and we could eventually get to the 40,000 mark we talked about some months ago.

"Before we do anything, there are, of course, a lot of talks to take place with the local residents and neighbouring organisations such as the Leicester Royal Infirmary and the environmental health department.

"But we have provisional dates in our diary already for next summer to make sure that the stadium is available and ready when we need it."

He said the city's park-and-ride services could help with parking.

Prue Almond, of music promoters International Talent Booking, in London, thought the stadium could be a "great outdoor summer venue".

Although not involved in the plans, she said: "It's the kind of venue we would definitely have a look at for some of our bigger shows.

''With a capacity of 17,000, it puts it on a par with the O2 in London.

''It's bigger than the Nottingham Arena, and slightly larger than LG arena at Birmingham's NEC.

"So the kind of bands you'd be looking at there is the bigger, well known acts – like Pink and Take That – bands and artists with a big production that work well in a stadium setting," she added.

that's just a stupid point and totally invalid arena shows are totally different to stadium shows!!

you need to compare other outdoor concert venues if she wants to make a valid point in which case..

City of Manchester 60000

Wembley Stadium 90000

Milton Keynes Bowl 75000

Ricoh Arena 40 000

in which case 17000 is stupidly small for an outdoor venue and the only acts you are likely to attract is Status Quo and Lemar

[Lillehamring]

that's just a stupid point and totally invalid arena shows are totally different to stadium shows!!

you need to compare other outdoor concert venues if she wants to make a valid point in which case..

City of Manchester 60000

Wembley Stadium 90000

Milton Keynes Bowl 75000

Ricoh Arena 40 000

in which case 17000 is stupidly small for an outdoor venue and the only acts you are likely to attract is Status Quo and Lemar

i'd rather watch the quo than take that or pink....

[jonthefox]

Some of the biggest concerts ever seen in the city could take place at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road ground next summer.

The Mercury can exclusively reveal that the club has hired a promoter to attract some of the rock and pop world's biggest names.

Four as yet un-named bands and artists have already showed a strong interest in the chance to play in front of up to 17,000 fans at the ground.

The newly-built Caterpillar Stand can hold around 10,000 spectators while another 7,000 could be accommodated on the pitch and lower tier of the Alliance and Leicester Stand, and executive boxes.

The stage would be set up on the Crumbie Terrace or at the ground's clubhouse end.

Stadium operations manager Charles Rayner, who helped bring the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bon Jovi to Coventry City's Ricoh Arena when he worked there, is working closely with the promoter.

He said: "We are talking to the council's building control and the safety advisory group (made up of groups such as local government and emergency services) to determine the capacity we can use at Welford Road.

"There is a niche target audience of around 15,000 to 17,000, which will enable us to bring in some very well-known artists and groups."

Mr Rayner first announced plans to hold concerts when the Caterpillar Stand was nearing completion last summer – taking match-day capacity from 17,500 up to 24,000.

He said the promoter had already been retained by Tigers to find out who which bands will be touring.

Mr Rayner said: "It is becoming more and more detailed and, as the ground grows over the next few years, the audience can grow and we could eventually get to the 40,000 mark we talked about some months ago.

"Before we do anything, there are, of course, a lot of talks to take place with the local residents and neighbouring organisations such as the Leicester Royal Infirmary and the environmental health department.

"But we have provisional dates in our diary already for next summer to make sure that the stadium is available and ready when we need it."

He said the city's park-and-ride services could help with parking.

Prue Almond, of music promoters International Talent Booking, in London, thought the stadium could be a "great outdoor summer venue".

Although not involved in the plans, she said: "It's the kind of venue we would definitely have a look at for some of our bigger shows.

''With a capacity of 17,000, it puts it on a par with the O2 in London.

''It's bigger than the Nottingham Arena, and slightly larger than LG arena at Birmingham's NEC.

"So the kind of bands you'd be looking at there is the bigger, well known acts – like Pink and Take That – bands and artists with a big production that work well in a stadium setting," she added.

at the very least it would save me a journey to that shithole ricoh.. great idea i say, even though i find the layout of it all a tad wierd.

[lou]

How would the Tiggers ground stand up to having an atmosphere?

[Fosse Boy]

How would the Tiggers ground stand up to having an atmosphere?

For that matter, how would the bowl a few hundred yards down the road from it cope?

[Head Honcho]

Pink and Take That? I can hardly contain myself.

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