Page 13 - 4-8-2019-Pollstar-rev

THE ROLLING STONES’ much anticipated North American No Filter Tour is on hold as Mick Jagger undergoes medical treatment. Photo by Sebastian Gollnow / dpa

“All those conversations are taking place and
they’re working through it, but there are a lot of
moving parts for sure,” he said. “It definitely gets
challenging, but it’s not impossible.”
The Gridiron Stadium Network, founded in
2005 to help NFL teams book more concerts
in their buildings, has a major presence on the
Stones Dates Stones’ No Filter tour. Apregan’s longtime rela-
Should Be Rescheduled Soon tionship with Concerts West helped secure dates
for six network members. (At NRG Stadium in
Houston, SMG and not the Texans took the lead
By Don Muret
for booking the Stones, he said.)
escheduled dates for the Rolling Stones’ 2019 about 130 miles north of Toronto and Canada’s Considering the tour was postponed about
RNorth American tour should be confirmed largest outdoor venue, are more uncertain at this three weeks before the first show April 20 at
over the next few weeks, said Jeff Apregan, a point, according to multiple reports. Hard Rock Stadium in the Miami area, there are
consultant for the Gridiron Stadium Network. John Meglen, co-CEO of Concerts West, did not upfront expenses that can’t be recouped by teams,
The group had six NFL member facilities on the return emails for comment. facilities and the promoter, such as meeting and
original route. Twelve NFL stadiums were part of the original preproduction costs, Apregan said. Those costs
“It was never a conversation about cancella- tour. The NFL preseason starts in early August, could reach seven figures, he said.
tion, it was always a conversation about postpone- which leaves a much shorter window to resched- Paul Bassman, CEO of Ascend Insurance Bro-
ment,” Apregan said. “The concern of course is ule dates before running into football season. At kerage, said, “The thing about the Stones is these
weather as you get later in the year.” that point, it can be a tricky process to squeeze shows sell out almost immediately, so that’s not
The 17-show tour, originally set for April 20 shows between games. Seven NFL stadiums on the biggest concern, but if they do have expens-
through June 29, was postponed because of a the original route, plus Rose Bowl Stadium, home es to reschedule, the policy would cover those,”
medical condition concerning lead singer Mick of UCLA football, have natural grass fields, and he said, adding that Concerts West most likely
Jagger, the band announced. Some media outlets rescheduling concerts after football season kicks bought its own insurance policy for protection and
have reported Jagger would have heart valve off could be an issue for teams concerned with that Ascend Insurance Brokerage does not have
surgery the first week of April. maintaining a high-quality playing surface. ties to the Stones’ tour. “The buildings them-
Tour promoter Concerts West, a division of AEG The NFL typically releases its schedule in mid- selves may have a policy to cover their profits
Presents, is reportedly rebooking dates starting April for preseason and regular-season games. from parking, merchandise ad concessions. I live
in July. Future dates to replace bookings for New “With preseason starting in August, you kind of in Dallas, and AT&T Stadium will take out a policy
Orleans Jazzfest and Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, wonder about those things,” Apregan said. every so often when they have a large event.” s

APRIL 8, 2019 | 13