Thursday, 16 April 2009
ANGRY Northside residents living in the vicinity of Croke Park have slammed the selling of tickets for the upcoming U2 concerts which have yet to be licensed.
Three July dates of the U2 360 tour, which will see 82,000 fans pile into Croke Park each night, were advertised and thousands of tickets have been sold without the licence being granted for the events.
While the licence request for the three dates was included in last week’s planning list, residents who will be most affected by the gigs doubt that the council will reject permission for the event which is likely to generate e6.5 million in revenue.
“If they weren’t sure that they would get the licence then they wouldn’t have advertised the dates,” said Barbara Ward of the Clonliff and District Residents’ Association.
“It’s a bit premature and just makes you wonder what the point is in going through the planning process for the licence in which public submissions from the public are invited.
“It’s a joke and it makes a mockery of the residents who are led to believe they have a say on whether the concerts go ahead or not.”
Last month, all 164,000 tickets for the two initial U2 concerts - Friday July 24 and Saturday July 25 - sold out in one hour prompting the band to announce a third date for July 27.
Tickets for the final Croke Park gig, which were priced e33.60, e59.80, e91.50, e131.50, went on sale on April 1.
Disgruntled residents living close to Croker believe they are being completely overlooked by both the council and the promoters.
“No one seems to realise how this extra date will impact on us,” Barbara told Northside People.
“The concert will go on until all hours. It will be at least 1am before our neighbourhood settles down and we are able to get any sleep and many of residents need to get up for work the next morning.”
Bill Byrne of Foster Terrace said residents were left frustrated when extra dates were added on without any consultation with locals.
“I just don’t understand the logic behind this process which seems so flexible, especially when it comes to big bands and promoters who put so much pressure on the council to grant permission as the tickets have already been sold,” he said.
Local councillor Emer Costello (Lab) criticised the promoter’s ability to “put the cart before the horse”, which she said left the council’s hands tied.
“There’s a lot of money riding on these gigs,” she told Northside People.
“I really can’t see the council rejecting the licence for these concerts for which tickets have already been sold.
“It’s not as if anyone would be too keen on having to refund the 246,000 people who have bought tickets for the concerts.”
In 1992, Croke Park was granted permission to hold three concerts per year. However, the events are subject to a council approved management plan and licensing.
“Under the licensing regulations Croke Park are obliged to lodge a detailed event management plan to the planning authority 16 weeks in advance of any proposed event,” a Dublin City Council spokesperson said.
“Submissions are accepted by the planning authority for five weeks from the date of lodgement of the event licence application.
“The application is referred for comment to a number of consultees – Health Services Executive, An Garda Siochana and Dublin Fire Brigade, for instance.
“A decision to grant or refuse a licence is an executive function of the planning authority.
“The licence application for three concerts at Croke Park is currently under consideration by the planning authority.”
The spokesperson added: “The planning regulations do not preclude a promoter from advertising or selling tickets for an event in advance of the license being issue.”
A spokesperson for MCD said it had placed notices regarding the U2 concerts in the media as part of its application which it had lodged with the council.
“In addition Croke Park has raised the issue at a recent Community Liaison Committee Meeting which includes representatives from the local community and local politicians,” the spokesperson continued.
“All local politicians are regular visitors to Croke Park, and like other fans will attest to the professional standards to which events are run.
“Large events in Croke Park are extremely important ways of stimulating the Dublin economy. It is estimated that this weekend will benefit the city with an economic stimulus of some e100 million.
“In recognition of the cooperation from the local community to staging concerts at Croke Park MCD have made a substantial contribution to the Community Trust Fund which has been set aside for community enhancement projects in the locality.”
source: dublinpeople
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