It’s only rock ’n’ roll, but Mayor Kelly likes it
City to roll out $100,000 red carpet for rumoured Stones concert
By BILL POWER Staff Reporter
Many people were humming familiar rock tunes at Halifax city hall Tuesday as council agreed to pony up $100,000 to help open the door for what Mayor Peter Kelly described as the biggest entertainment event in the city’s history.
The wallet was out but lips were sealed as to what bands are expected to play at a massive concert on the Halifax Commons that is expected to draw more people than the memorable event that welcomed Pope John Paul II to the city in 1984.
"I do not want to say anything to fuel the already wild speculation that is underway about which acts are expected," the mayor said.
There have been widespread rumours that Mick and Keith and the boys will headline the show. But the phrase Rolling Stones was not heard officially at city hall on Tuesday.
All that is known is major acts and huge crowds are expected.
"Outlying hotels and motels will benefit," Mr. Kelly said.
He confirmed Sept. 23 is a date that has been mentioned in negotiations between the World Trade and Convention Centre and Donald K. Donald Promotions of Montreal, but logistics and the municipality’s expected liabilities have dominated the talks. The lineup of performers has not been finalized, he said.
Mr. Kelly said it is up to the promoter to announce the lineup. Officials with Donald K. Donald did not respond to inquiries Tuesday.
The mayor did confirm the concert will occur on the Halifax Commons and not on Citadel Hill, a smaller venue that has hosted several major rock shows.
He said the configuration of the concert site may resemble the arrangement for the pope’s visit, when a stage was erected near the intersection of Cogswell and North Park streets and an estimated 30,000 people turned out to hear him speak.
Mr. Kelly said the municipality will hold firm on its $100,000 share of the anticipated costs of hosting the concert. The money will go toward extra policing and cleanup expenses.
He defended holding closed-door talks on the concert contract at city hall. The talks went on for about two hours before a public session of regional council got underway.
"The contractual signoffs will be soon, within the next two weeks," he said. "And we had to understand the parameters that we would be engaged in this process."
But two councillors stormed out of the closed session, complaining the contract talks should be open to the public.
"The taxpayers are footing the bills, they should know what is happening," Coun. Gloria McCluskey (Dartmouth Centre) complained after she walked out.
She paced the hallway for some time and then headed to the councillors’ offices after council shot down her bid to discuss the contract in public.
Ms. McCluskey said a similar sort of "unnecessary" secrecy has surrounded talks relating to Halifax’s bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
"It’s a waste of time being in there until we find out what we’re voting on," said Coun. Andrew Younger (East Dartmouth-The Lakes), who also walked out.
He, too, favoured discussing the contract at a regular council meeting open to the public.
Mr. Kelly stood by the decision to discuss the contract in private and said details will be publicized in the coming weeks.
"It will be one of the largest events we’ve held," he said. "There were 30,000 people when the pope was here. This one is beyond that."
At Tuesday night’s regular council meeting, councillors formally agreed to the $100,000 commitment in a 17-4 vote with minimal debate.
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