“GLASGOW’S PARKS COULD BECOME THE MOST EXPENSIVE GREENFIELD SPACES IN THE UK TO HOLD EVENTS, AND WITH THE CHARGES SEEMING TO APPLY ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO MUSIC EVENTS, ULTIMATELY IT IS FANS WHO WILL SUFFER”
Geoff Ellis, Chief Executive of DF Concerts
mately it is fans who will suffer. He added: “An additional ticket
charge will deter promoters from using Glasgow parks and deter people from attending events, all while reducing the number of visi- tors to the city. Major events gener- ate significant economic impact for Glasgow, and additional charges such as this puts that at risk. Some events may also see this charge as an insurmountable cost to opera- tion, resulting in fewer events being held in the city. “We are undoubtedly in tough
longed warm spell, leaving lots of sandy patches to be deal with.
DF CONCERTS said it is keeping its pre-sale ticket prices, avail- able exclusively to members of its database, at the same level, but ultimately it expects it will have to pass on the charges. Ellis, Chief Executive of DF Concerts, said: “Te extra charges for ticketed concerts in the Glasgow City Council budget will ultimately have a negative
impact on the city’s economy, with promoters facing increased operat- ing costs and fans facing increasing ticket prices. “Promoters already pay substan-
tial sums to use greenfield spaces in Glasgow, in addition to ensuring proper cleaning and maintenance. Glasgow’s parks could become the most expensive greenfield spaces in the UK to hold events, and with the charges seeming to apply almost exclusively to music events, ulti-
economic times, which is why we’ve reduced our pre-sale price for TRNSMT 2019 and have held the regular price at the same level as the past two years. We don’t want to increase prices for any of our events, because ultimately it’s the fans who make them a success.” “I hope that the Council will
consider the wider economic and societal implications they would ultimately have.”
PHIL BOWDERY, Chairman of the Concert Promoters Associa- tion, said: “Te introduction of an additional charge for those attend- ing live music events in Glasgow poses a significant threat to the
provision of live music in the city. Promoters already pay significant fees to use and maintain spaces used for events, and the introduc- tion of additional charges will put the number and quality of shows at risk and deter fans from attending. Glasgow is a proud UNESCO City of Music, and we hope the Council will reconsider what looks to be a tax on music fans.” A Glasgow City Council spokes-
person said: “Tis is a measure that was proposed and then agreed on February 22 as part of the coun- cil’s budget setting process. Te feedback we have received from the public is that they welcome events to the city and appreciate the vibrancy that cultural events bring. “Tey have also told us how
much they value our green spaces and would like to see a more direct connection between events that we host and income invested back into our parks. Te levy is about helping us to
strike this balance. “We are also ring-fencing some
of this fund in to a participatory budgeting pilot to give our Friends of Parks Forum an opportunity to have a say in how this levy is spent in parks across the city.” n
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