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Garth Brooks calls off entire run of Dublin comeback dates Garth Brooks calls off entire run of Dublin comeback dates
(about 1 month later)
Garth Brooks has called off his entire Garth Brooks has called off his entire run of Dublin comeback gigs after the city council refused to grant permission for more than three concerts at Croke Park stadium. Promoters said they had "exhausted all avenues" for staging the proposed five shows, which would have kicked off the country singer's first tour in more than 13 years.
run of Dublin comeback gigs after the city council refused to grant permission for more "It is with great regret that Aiken Promotions today announce that the five concert Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event at Croke Park has been cancelled," organisers explained on 8 July. "No concerts will take place."
than three concerts at Croke Park stadium. Promoters said they had Ultimately, the problem stemmed from the quantity of shows. Although tickets for the five gigs went on sale at the end of January, promoters didn't apply for event licences until mid-April. By that time, 400,000 people had bought tickets, and almost 400 local residents and businesses had made formal submissions regarding Brooks' appearances.
"exhausted all avenues" for staging the proposed five Last week, officials announced that they would only allow three shows to take place, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 25 to 27 July. Croke Park is "in a heavily populated residential area", city council said in a statement, and five concerts – with their accompanying noise, traffic and "potential antisocial behaviour" – would represent "an over-intensification of use of the stadium". Prior to 2014, Croke Park had never hosted more than four concerts in a single year.
shows, which would have kicked off the country singer's first tour in In response, Brooks issued a statement declaring he would do "five shows or none at all". "To choose which shows to do and which shows not to do, would be like asking to choose one child over another," he wrote. Aiken Productions later wrote that this statement "was not an ultimatum, [but] an expression of genuine concern for [Garth's] fans".
more than 13 years. On Monday night, a narrow majority of Dublin councillors voted to approve Brooks' quintet of concerts. But it was too little too late: city manager Owen Keegan stated that it was not legally possible to change the earlier ruling.
"It is with great regret that "[This is] an embarrassment [for Ireland]," arts minister Jimmy Deenihan told the Irish Independent. Enda Kenny, Ireland's Taoiseach, agreed that the matter appeared "to have been very badly handled". "[It is] a shock to the system in terms of the economy of the city and the reputation of our country," he said.
Aiken Promotions today announce that the five concert Garth Brooks Many residents of Croke Park were also disappointed. "We were going to have friends down to come and sit in the garden and listen to the music while the concert is on but that won’t be happening now," one told the Irish Times. But others called it a victory for the neighbourhood: "I'm glad the residents association stood up for themselves and I’m also glad that Dublin City Council refused to be bullied by Garth Brooks and Aiken," said Monica Heck. "For once, they put the law of the land above the lure of money."
Comeback Special Event at Croke Park has been cancelled," Brooks, who has sold more than 125m albums, announced in December that his family had given him the OK to go back on the road. The Dublin gigs were his first, and so far only, concerts to be announced. Brooks has now scheduled a press conference for 10 July, where he is expected to reveal plans for a broad world tour.
organisers explained on 8 July. "No concerts will take place."
Ultimately, the problem stemmed from the quantity of shows. Although tickets for the five
gigs went on sale at the end of January, promoters didn't apply for
event licences until mid-April. By that time, 400,000 people had
bought tickets, and almost 400 local residents and businesses had
made formal submissions regarding Brooks' appearances.
Last week, officials announced that
they would only allow three shows to take place, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 25 to 27 July. Croke Park is "in
a heavily populated residential area", city council said in a
statement, and five concerts – with their accompanying noise, traffic
and "potential antisocial behaviour" – would represent "an
over-intensification of use of the stadium". Prior to 2014,
Croke Park had never hosted more than four concerts in a single year.
In response, Brooks issued a statement
declaring he would do "five shows or none at all". "To
choose which shows to do and which shows not to do, would be like
asking to choose one child over another," he wrote. Aiken
Productions later wrote that this statement "was not an
ultimatum, [but] an expression of genuine concern for [Garth's]
fans".
On Monday night, a narrow majority of
Dublin councillors voted to approve Brooks' quintet of concerts. But
it was too little too late: city manager Owen Keegan stated that it
was not legally possible to change the earlier ruling.
"[This is] an embarrassment [for
Ireland]," arts minister Jimmy Deenihan told the Irish
Independent. Enda Kenny, Ireland's Taoiseach, agreed that the matter appeared
"to have been very badly handled". "[It is] a shock to
the system in terms of the economy of the city and the reputation of
our country," he said.
Many residents of Croke Park were also
disappointed. "We were going to have friends down to come and
sit in the garden and listen to the music while the concert is on but
that won’t be happening now," one told the Irish Times. But others called it a victory for the neighbourhood: "I'm
glad the residents association stood up for themselves and I’m also
glad that Dublin City Council refused to be bullied by Garth Brooks
and Aiken," said Monica Heck. "For once, they put the law
of the land above the lure of money."
Brooks, who has sold more than 125m albums, announced in December that his family had given him
the OK to go back on the road. The Dublin gigs were his first, and so
far only, concerts to be announced. Brooks has now scheduled a press
conference for 10 July, where he is expected to reveal plans for a
broad world tour.