Fleetwood Mac In NZ! - Page 9

vivfox · #**121** 11-15-2009, 01:38 PM

Bowl bosses budge on blanket ban
By JARED SMITH - Taranaki Daily News Last updated 05:00 16/11/2009
Blankets are fine, but forget the picnics.

Organisers of next month's Fleetwood Mac are assuring concertgoers they don't want them to freeze in the TSB Bowl of Brooklands.

Alarm bells began ringing last week after a district council update in the North Taranaki Midweek suggested blankets would be banned from the Bowl.

Bowl manager Adrienne Kensington was quoted as saying that the 17,000 fans who attended on December 19 and 20 should not bring blankets with them.

"People who bring in blankets won't be able to use them for very long because of the crowd size, so we urge people to leave them at home," she said.

Mrs Kensington said her office had received calls from concerned ticket holders worried about keeping warm if it was a cold Taranaki weekend.

In fact, the explanation was that people could not expect to fan out picnic fashion because of the sheer crowd numbers.

Rather than a ban on blankets, it was merely a warning of what to expect. "It was just a suggestion that they do that. It is more or less to inform them they won't be able to spread out," said Mrs Kensington.

"We are going to be packed and people are going to stand up and dance.

"We're not saying, `Don't bring blankets at all'. It's just not a spread."

Beach chairs and large picnic hampers would not be allowed and anyone entering the Bowl with them would be asked to return them to their cars, or leave them in the area provided at the gate.

Signs would be put up around the racecourse area informing arrivals of the rules.

Mrs Kensington said similar restrictions were in place in the Bowl during the Elton John concert in 2007, attended by 14,500 people.

Each Fleetwood Mac concert would have another 2500 in the crowd, plus the 1100 on the special seating over the lake.

"The fences are right back, for room to be freed up."

There would be a ban on bringing alcohol into the Bowl for the concerts.

Mrs Kensington also said no commercial food would be allowed because there was a contract with catering company Eurest.

Simple snack food in a backpack was all right, but carrying 10 pizza boxes was not.

First Security would handle the entry points and crowd control on the concert nights.

There would be no parking on Kaimata, Somerset and Cornwall streets to accommodate those walking in and out.

Mrs Kensington said more information on conditions of entry to the concerts would be released on websites and advertised in the Taranaki Daily News closer to the concert dates.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-dail...on-blanket-ban

michelej1 · #**122** 11-15-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivfox

Bowl manager Adrienne Kensington was quoted as saying that the 17,000 fans who attended on December 19 and 20 should not bring blankets with them.

Ok, HejiraNYC. You can't go strolling in there with cashmere throws. Pack flannel shirts.

Michele

HejiraNYC · #**123** 11-15-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelej1

Ok, HejiraNYC. You can't go strolling in there with cashmere throws. Pack flannel shirts.

Michele

Oh, it's the Leopard Slanket for me all the way!

hippilil86 · #**124** 11-15-2009, 04:45 PM

bring a snuggie. not quite a blanket, not quite an acceptable outfit.

**mylittledemon** · #**125** 11-15-2009, 09:08 PM

Viv, that last article you posted makes things at New Plymouth kinda sound like a drag. Esp, with the ridiculous amount of people. Methinks they sold a few thousand too many tickets. I'm almost glad I'm not going now. A sign of old age, perhaps?

HejiraNYC · #**126** 11-15-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

Viv, that last article you posted makes things at New Plymouth kinda sound like a drag. Esp, with the ridiculous amount of people. Methinks they sold a few thousand too many tickets. I'm almost glad I'm not going now. A sign of old age, perhaps?

It appears to be more and more of a ****show as time goes on. I love it! From what I've been hearing from the local innkeepers and others, an event of this scale has never been witnessed in New Plymouth. I just never thought our band could still cause such a commotion at this day and age. But then again... they are also up in arms about the Cliff Richard and the Shadows concerts there in February. And Sir Cliff has got to be pushing 75

or so.

Anyway, you have to go- for the spectacle if nothing else! I'm driving down to Wellington on the following day if you need a ride.

trackaghost · #**127** 11-15-2009, 10:00 PM

Cliff Richard is 69, I feel embarrassed that I know that but I do

**mylittledemon** · #**128** 11-15-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Anyway, you have to go- for the spectacle if nothing else! I'm driving down to Wellington on the following day if you need a ride.

You're coming to NZ for these shows!?!

vivfox · #**129** 11-15-2009, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

It appears to be more and more of a ****show as time goes on.

Anyway, Brandon you have to go- for the spectacle if nothing else! I'm driving down to Wellington on the following day if you need a ride.

BRANDON!!!!!!! You have to go! You have no excuse now. You are unemployed since you got layed off from Vibe Magazine and you don't even need a ticket! It's an outdoor show. Just stand in the parking lot and listen. And bring a tape recorder with you!!! And plenty of smokables for your host who is taking you there!

**mylittledemon** · #**130** 11-15-2009, 10:14 PM

I don't have tickets.

vivfox · #**131** 11-15-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

I don't have tickets.

Read my post before this one and yours.

**mylittledemon** · #**132** 11-15-2009, 10:21 PM

And what kind of enjoyment would I get from standing in a parking area?

HejiraNYC · #**133** 11-15-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

You're coming to NZ for these shows!?!

I really had no intention of going whatsoever. But somehow I miraculously pulled a front row seat for the second show and then spent a minute thinking about it. I had some vacation time to burn before the end of the year so I thought, why the heck not?

So I'm only going to one show, but I've already planned/booked an insane itinerary from Sydney to Auckland to Christchurch. If anything, it was kind of a bummer to plan around the Brooklands show, since New Plymouth really is kind of in the middle of nowhere. There's the volcano... and that's pretty much it.

So at the end of the day, I will use up my remaining vacation time, visit two countries on my bucket list, see my favorite band and still end up at my parents house for Christmas dinner. Albeit, a late, late dinner.

vivfox · #**134** 11-15-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

And what kind of enjoyment would I get from standing in a parking area?

You won't be the only one. Improvise. You'll still be able to HEAR the show.

**mylittledemon** · #**135** 11-15-2009, 11:00 PM

Meh. Not gonna make it. Even with free tickets I'd still have to think about it. I really have no desire to go to New Plymouth... the band (or the management) picked the wrong venue, wrong place to have a show here. Stupid stupid stupid.