POP CONCERTS IN THE STADIUM INSTEAD? Concert bowl ruled out, but….
POP CONCERTS in Crystal Palace park bowl have been ruled out – but promoters are keen on holding concerts in the sports stadium – and other parts of the park.
Crystal Palace Park Community Stakeholder Group chairman Martin Tempia in a post on Virtual Norwood said: “The good news is that the promoters were knocked out by the terraces, stadium, and other areas of the park.
“They think the park’s potential for staging a range of popular events is considerable. “It’s now down to us to try and realise this potential.”
He told NFCP: “In short the promoters thought the platform/bowl was neither suitable or commercially viable as a venue for music events.
“But their reaction to the park was ‘Wow’ and they said that with other potential venues in the park why were we bothering with the bowl.?”
Mr Tempia was responding to comments made about a News From Crystal Palace story reposted on Virtual Norwood.
One blogger asked: “Feasibility works also found that the concert platform will cost in the region of £650k to restore” Does anyone know why it would cost so much to restore the platform ? “It seems a bit steep.”
Mr Tempia responded: “Sad but accurate and even then it’s doubtful that it would be an attractive venue for promoters.
“The sad truth is that the platform was probably never fit for purpose. “It can’t accommodate a full size concert orchestra, its backstage area is limited, the lake (which serves a major water management function in that part of the park) would need to be drained.
“The original licensed capacity (circa 18,000) has been dramatically reduced as a result in health and safety changes. “No-one was more disappointed than me when a succession of festival/concert promoters explained why the platform and bowl wouldn’t work as a venue for contemporary music events.
“Modern festivals are multi-stage events and the platform would struggle to meet the expectations of festival/concert goers as even a single stage venue.”
Extract from TRUST WOULD HAVE TO PAY COUNCIL COSTS OF ALMOST £500,000 – and other points from park report March 23, 2015
CONCERT BOWL RESTORATION: Would cost around £650,000 to restore.
“Feasibility works also found that the concert platform will cost in the region of £650k to restore” says the report. “Once it is restored its uses are very limited as a performance venue.
“Expert analysis has indicated the platform is not suitable for pop concerts, full orchestras or many other performance types.
“It would only be suitable for small scale community not-for-profit use, and would not generate an income.
“The (natural) auditorium would require approximately £100k to bring in to use due to the drainage complications at the site. Draining this area would impact on the whole water management of the site.
The Masterplan recognised these problems and proposed that the auditorium should take on a new use. “Other uses for the platform suggested during consultation, such as transforming the building into a café or restaurant, could be considered in the future.”
(Further reading: see Parish Pump)
