A group of NFL stadiums is negotiating with the Rolling Stones to book the band and an extension of its “Bigger Bang” tour for dates in the fall, an official representing the facilities said.
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The Rolling Stones’ promoter is negotiating with a group
of 12 NFL teams for possible stadium tour dates this fall. |
“Nothing’s confirmed, but [tour promoter] TNA is talking to a number of our members for 2006,” said Pam Fallon, director for the Gridiron Stadium Network, a nonprofit group that 11 NFL teams formed a year ago to attract more events to their buildings.
The Miami Dolphins joined this year as the organization’s 12th member.
“We’re talking to a few, but it’s premature at this point,” said Gerry Barad, TNA senior vice president.
The Stones grossed $162 million for 42 North American dates in 2005, including Soldier Field and Giants Stadium in September.
The band partnered with the NFL and ABC to promote the 2005 season on television, and the Stones performed the Super Bowl XL halftime show at Ford Field in Detroit. The Lions are part of the gridiron network.
Fallon said that she has close ties to Barad and that they’ve been talking about having the Stones play more NFL venues before the tour concludes. Fallon was previously vice president of communications for Clear Channel Entertainment, the country’s biggest concert promoter, which at one time owned half of Toronto-based TNA.
In December, Clear Channel spun off its concert division into a separate company called Live Nation, and that firm assumed the TNA ownership share.
The Gridiron Stadium Network had its annual meeting two weeks ago in Los Angeles, and the 12 team representatives talked to event promoters and booking agents as they continue to lobby the entertainment industry to bring special events to their facilities.
The teams pay $25,000 annually to belong to the network, and while some members acknowledged that they have yet to book events through their ties to the organization, officials said it takes time to develop non-NFL business for each stadium.
“Several members are not as active in the event business as others,” said Steve Eckerson, the network’s chairman and director of marketing and sales for First & Goal Inc., the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium operator at Qwest Field.
First & Goal books boat and travel shows and concerts in the 300,000-square-foot exhibition hall next to the stadium, and the Seahawks are “more in tune” to attracting special events to their facilities, Eckerson said.
Qwest Field and Ford Field secured Kenny Chesney concert dates this summer, and the Seahawks and Lions credited Louis Messina, Chesney’s promoter and a network consultant, for persuading the country artist to play their facilities instead of returning to play arenas or amphitheaters in their markets.
“It was definitely driven by Louis, but Kenny had to approve the deal,” Eckerson said.
“As much as the organization is an advocate … for an established artist, the decision is up to them,” Fallon said.
