Rocket man to line out at home of reds
Up to 20,000 fans will be able to attend the June 6 concert, promoter Peter Aiken said yesterday.
His company, Aiken Promotions, has signed a deal for exclusive concert use of Thomond Park for 2009.
Tickets, ranging in price from €116.25 to €79.25, go on sale from Monday next through Ticketmaster and other outlets.
“This is a fantastic stadium and a credit to all the people involved,” said Mr Aiken at the revamped venue yesterday.
“When I saw it under construction a year ago, I never thought it would be this spectacular.”
Elton John will be on stage for more than two hours and Aiken hopes to sell 50% of the tickets in the greater Limerick area.
Crowd levels, the promoter said, would depend on conditions set out on the licence by the authorities but it was expected they would be able to accommodate about 20,000 on the night — 10,000 in the two stands and 10,000 on the pitch itself.
Mr Aiken said it will be the only Irish gig by Elton John next year.
He said they had especially booked the popular singer songwriter for the inaugural Thomond Park concert due to his appeal with a mature audience.
“That was a consideration in choosing the act,” said the concert promoter.
Thomond Park manager John Cantwell was delighted the new stadium was already establishing itself as an international concert venue.
“The calibre of an artist such as Elton John is totally compatible with the type of entertainment we want to put on here,” he said.
Mr Cantwell said the stadium has always been sensitive to the impact big game days have on people in the area.
“We wanted to target somebody who would attract the appropriate age profile,” Mr Cantwell said.
“The type of music on offer was equally important to the stadium owners — low key but highly entertaining.
“They have delivered an international act in Elton John and we will take it step by step. If Aiken Promotions can continue to deliver these kind of high profile acts, of course we will continue our partnership with them,” said Mr Cantwell.
“We are not in any negotiation with any other promoter.
“We have agreed Elton is totally suitable and the type of act we want to be connected with for Limerick and the Munster region, and we will take it from there.
“The stadium has to pay for itself, so we need to be looking at acts but we won’t overdo it, we’ll take a sensible and pragmatic approach,” said mr Cantwell.
He said if other concerts are proposed for 2009 by Aiken Promotions they would be considered.
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