Ozzfest is free this year

Livia · #1 02-06-2007, 04:00 PM

http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewnews.pl?NewsID=7649

Free Ozzfest
Updated 11:46 PST Tue, Feb 06 2007

Ozzy Osbourne and wife/manager Sharon Osbourne held a press conference at the Concert Industry Consortium February 6 that was promised to be historic, and was.

Osbourne dispelled rumors that he was retiring and announced the first free festival tour in the history of the U.S.

"Ozzy's been touring for 30 odd years and he's done very well, and just wanted to give something back," Sharon said.

The tour starts in San Bernardino July 7 and will continue through 25 cities including San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Hartford, Charlotte, Atlanta, West Plam Beach and Nashville. A final confirmed list of cities and dates is forthcoming.

How this will work logistically is unclear, but it will be a ticketed event and is a Live Nation tour.

"For the last few years,ticket prices have steadily climbed as artists demand more and more money for summer tours," Sharon said. "We certainly want everybody to make money, however we also want the kids to be able to afford to come out and have an incredible experience. If we continued with the traditional touring festival model, we would have no choice but to raise ticket prices again this year."

The bands will not be paid. This gives artists an opportunity to get exposure by playing in front of thousands of Ozzfest fans, Sharon said. The artists will have the opportunity to secure other gigs during the tour.

A lineup is expected within two weeks.

UnwindedDreams · #2 02-06-2007, 04:01 PM

Yes....Yes...Yes!!! It's going to be so crazy though...lol!

BTFLCHLD · #3 02-06-2007, 04:04 PM

WOW

Thanks Livia for the post.

UnwindedDreams · #4 02-06-2007, 04:11 PM

What do they mean by New York...Jones Beach, Randall's Island...anybody know?

Livia · #5 02-06-2007, 04:14 PM

^^^ Guess we'll have to wait 'til the dates/venues are announced.

Can Jones Beach accommodate a sprawling festival, w/ many stages? I've never been there, but I always thought it was your typical shed - one stage, reserved seats, lawn...

UnwindedDreams · #6 02-06-2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livia

^^^ Guess we'll have to wait 'til the dates/venues are announced.

Can Jones Beach accommodate a sprawling festival, w/ many stages? I've never been there, but I always thought it was your typical shed - one stage, reserved seats, lawn...

I think they've had it there before, livia...

HejiraNYC · #7 02-06-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

I think they've had it there before, livia...

Yes, they have.

Jones Beach has no lawn whatsoever, so I kinda doubt they had multiple stages there. That is, unless they set up in the parking lot, which is massive.

My guess is that they will be on Randall's Island considering the large crowds this would draw. The tickets are free, but I'll bet the concessions will be outrageously expensive- $7 for a bottle of water, $8 for a hot dog, etc. It's an interesting business model... Sharon is no dummy... she knows what she's doing.

If they attract 25,000 people at each stop, and each person spends an average of $30 on food, drinks and merchandise, that's a take of $750,000. And the money is all Ozzy's since they aren't paying any of the other performers. After expenses and overhead, he clears $300K easily. That's enough to pay for 30 facelifts!

UnwindedDreams · #8 02-06-2007, 05:18 PM

Rumours on the ozzfest board are that some shows will be indoor...

estranged4life · #9 02-06-2007, 08:10 PM

Rumor: 2007 OZZFest Changing To Indoor Arena Setup

Rumor Alert... HeadbangerNYC.com are reporting the following:

"Rumors are that this summer's OZZFest will involve a change from the tour's traditionally open-air format to an indoor-arena setup, with OZZY OSBOURNE serving as the headliner on most, if not all, the dates, and around 5 - 6 additional bands on the bill and a few others on select stops. The change will be made to reduce the high cost of running the festival as well as to address the sluggish ticket sales that have plagued the festival in recent years.

Although there has been no official announcement on the matter, it is believed that ALICE IN CHAINS will take part in this year's event, which is expected to kick off in late June or early July.

Other bands that are strongly rumored to be in talks to perform are: BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, SCORPIONS, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and HELLYEAH."

Stay tuned for further updates.

-----------------------------------

With that rumored lineup I could see why the shows may be free, I sure wouldnt pay to see that weak lineup.

gldstwmn · #10 02-06-2007, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

The tickets are free, but I'll bet the concessions will be outrageously expensive- $7 for a bottle of water, $8 for a hot dog, etc. It's an interesting business model... Sharon is no dummy... she knows what she's doing.

If they attract 25,000 people at each stop, and each person spends an average of $30 on food, drinks and merchandise, that's a take of $750,000. And the money is all Ozzy's since they aren't paying any of the other performers. After expenses and overhead, he clears $300K easily. :

Bingo! Not to mention the extra money fans will have to spend on merch. What a way to renew interest in Ozzfest. Sharon is one hell of a businesswoman.

gldstwmn · #11 02-07-2007, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estranged4life

SCORPIONS

They're still around? I saw them in like 1988. I think Dokken may have opened for them.

xdreamsunwindx · #12 02-07-2007, 12:11 AM

Is Ozzy gonna show up at these shows? If I remember correctly, he just showed up randomly last Ozzfest.

Meh, what the hell. If it's free, I'll go. It's something to do. And I like Scorpions.

EDIT: Nevermind, I see that he is supposed to headline. Good.
EDIT 2: I do not see why Alice In Chains are still going, without Layne. Good on them, I guess. But I think it's weird.