Park Gears Up For Oasis
By
Stop Crying Your Heart Out
on
June 02, 2009
Heaton Park has seen nothing like it since Pope John Paul II's 'gig' in 1982.
This week 210,000 followers of home-grown rock superstars Oasis will turn up to worship their heroes.
And it could mean the start of a new era for the council-owned park as a world-class outdoor concert venue to rival the likes of Manchester United's Old Trafford, Glastonbury and even the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
Six months of planning for the three Oasis concerts by Manchester council and other agencies have meant improvements to the park which make it a contender for future large-scale events.
The Gallagher brothers will perform on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at the biggest concerts ever staged in the park.
Concert promoters SJM Concerts selected Heaton Park, one of Europe's largest municipal parks, as the hometown location for the band's biggest ever tour of open-air venues.
A temporary arena is being constructed in the park to host the 70,000 ticket holders for each concert. Visitors will be able to take advantage of a special park and ride scheme as well as shuttle buses to and from the city centre which have also been arranged to complement the existing public transport to make travel easier for fans and to cause minimum impact to the local community.
Coun Mike Amesbury said: "This three-day event clearly positions Heaton Park as an attractive alternative to other venues in the region.
"We have worked hard with Bury and Rochdale councils, Greater Manchester Police, GMPTE, concert promoters SJM and the local community to ensure minimum disruption and are looking forward to welcoming visitors to what promises to be a real milestone event."
A community information hotline is also in place for the duration of the concerts for anyone with any queries. Call 0161 954 9003. The hotline will be open June 3 2.30pm - 8.30pm; June 5 8.00am - 8.00pm; June 8 8.00am - 12noon and concert days - June 4, 6, and 7, 8am - 1am.
Click here to view a gallery of the stage set up.
Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Tickets are still available for a number shows on Oasis' largest-ever UK Stadium tour, click here for availability of tickets.