A Captain Fantastic idea
Halifax could be in running for an Elton John indoor concert
By DAVENE JEFFREY Staff Reporter
Thu. Feb 28 - 5:12 AM
The Rocket Man could be touching down in Halifax this year.
Elton John is considering performing three or four concerts in Atlantic Canada, says concert promoter Riley O’Connor of Live Nation.
Mr. O’Connor told CTV News that Mr. John is looking at suitable locations in the Maritimes and Newfoundland.
Live Nation is promoting two shows in Ontario and several in the United States.
Mr. O’Connor says it’s not feasible for the legendary singer to play a single concert in the region. He says Mr. John prefers to play indoor venues.
Mr. O’Connor told CTV he’s interested in playing cities that are not "your typical triple-A five-star attractions." Nothing is finalized, but he says the concerts could happen any time before December.
He told the Sudbury Star a few days ago that September would be the most likely time.
Mr. John will play a sold-out concert this Sunday at a 6,000-seat venue in Sudbury, Ont. Ticket prices there range from $87.50 to $129.50
The 10,000-seat Metro Centre in Halifax is the largest indoor venue in Atlantic Canada. "I’d be happy to see him anywhere as long as it is in Halifax," said Coun. Dawn Sloane (Halifax Downtown).
Ms. Sloane could not confirm Mr. John’s promoters have been in touch with Halifax, but she’s heard rumours. "I had a call last week," she said. "We’re on the list now."
Ms. Sloane said Halifax can now draw "triple-A" acts and the acts know that fans here will shell out for the tickets.
About two weeks ago, Creative Entertainment Group confirmed it has a contract with Halifax to pursue big-name acts capable of filling the Halifax Commons, which has a capacity of 40,000. Creative Entertainment president Sharon Kim-Dion said only about a half-dozen acts on the planet can fill that kind of venue.
Creative Entertainment, based in Europe with offices in New York, has worked with Mr. John in the past, according to the company’s website.
According to eltonjohn.com, his North American tour begins today in Portland, Maine. So far, there are only two Canadian concert dates, Sudbury on Sunday and Kitchener on Monday.
He will be performing in the United States until June 22. His schedule includes two stints in Las Vegas from March 19 to April 6 and then June 3 to June 22.
From June 28 to July 13, Mr. John has several concerts scheduled in Europe and England. Then his date book appears to be wide open until a performance in France on Dec. 9.
Mayor Peter Kelly, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening, said this month that Halifax lost out in a bidding war for an Elton John show last year.
In November, Celine Dion backed out of a concert for this summer on the Commons, citing mixed public reaction.
"I believe that’s water under the bridge and we’re moving forward," Ms. Sloane said.
Indeed, a month after the Quebec-born singer cancelled her Halifax date, the city snagged Australian superstar Keith Urban, who will headline Country Rocks 2008, an eight-act concert on the Commons on Aug. 30.
( djeffrey@herald.ca)
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