100 tonnes of equipment to be unloaded for ex-Beatle’s big show on Commons
By HEATHER AMOS and JOHN McPHEE Staff Reporter
It may not be long and winding, but the installation of a plywood road Wednesday kicked off preparations for Paul McCartney’s concert in Halifax next week.
Tractor-trailers will use the 30-metre road off Cunard Street to unload more than 100 tonnes of equipment and staging for the former Beatle’s performance July 11 on the Commons.
It’s hoped the hard surface will reduce damage to the grounds during setup and teardown, Greg Cox of Power Promotional Events of Dartmouth said Wednesday.
The unloading work will begin Friday. Crews will then start to build the stage, which will be 25 metres wide, 18 metres deep and about five metres high, Mr. Cox said.
The stage and bleachers in the northwest corner of the Commons will also be used for Halifax Rocks 2009 on July 18, headlined by Kiss.
The paths in that area will be closed from this Sunday through July 22.
An array of LED video monitors, including two six-storey screens, will surround the stage. Mr. Cox said fans also can expect a spectacular pyrotechnics show.
Organizers hope to sell about 60,000 tickets for the McCartney concert. Mr. Cox wouldn’t say how many tickets have been sold so far.
“We don’t talk about ticket sales,” he said.
But Mr. McCartney will be doing some talking to local radio and TV interviewers, beginning this morning.
J.C. Douglas, director of programming for Q104, is scheduled to interview him at about 8 a.m.
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