Posted on 06/24/2003 6:48:44 AM PDT by mitchbert
TORONTO -- It's official. Toronto will get the satisfaction of a Rolling Stones concert this summer.
Mick Jagger hinted earlier this month that he and the boys would make a detour from their current European tour to perform in Toronto on July 30, but the announcement was made official at a news conference this morning.
The concert is designed to boost Toronto's SARS-ravaged economy.
"The greatest band in the world is going to play in the greatest city in the world," shouted Mayor Mel Lastman during the news conference at Dundas Square.
"Toronto is a safe city. Toronto is a great city. And after the Stones play here the whole world is going to know it."
But the most surprising news is that it isn't just a Stones concert at Downsview Park, but an eight-hour musicfest featuring AC/DC, The Guess Who, Justin Timberlake, Sam Roberts, The Flaming Lips, Kathleen Edwards and Sass Jordan. The day-long event will be hosted by Dan Ackroyd and Jim Belushi.
"Come to Toronto and enjoy it," said Deputy Prime Minister John Manley.
Although originally speculated to be free, the concert will still be a steal at a cost of $21.50 per person. Tickets go on sale Friday across North America. In the Toronto area, A&P and Dominion stores will also be selling tickets starting Tuesday.
Any profits from the concert are to go to hospital and hospitality workers, as well as $1 from each ticket sold.
The concert had been discussed for weeks by Toronto MP Dennis Mills.
Mills and Senator Jerry Grafstein have spent recent weeks trying to dredge up private and public support for the concert's $10 million price tag. The federal government will reportedly shell out $3 million to help with infrasture.
But Mills says no government money will be involved in paying the artists.
"We're hoping by the end of July that with this event we'll bring at least 150,000 of our neighbours from the south and fill up every motel and hotel from Niagara Falls right through to Oshawa,'' Mills said.
Never trust a politician.
Unfortunately, even though Ontario is a Tory run province, we have socialist wing nuts running around everywhere. Should be a great concert, the Stones always practise here in Toronto at the Masonic Temple, and they spend a lot of time here. I hope a lot of Americans come, remember, we aren't the city that booed your anthem, we cheered it. It was Montreal that did that. We're in English Canada, not Frenchieland.
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