ELLIOT LAKE - Event promoter Corey McKenzie of AstroRabbit Entertainment tells ElliotLakeToday he's feeling more bullish now about landing major metal acts for a concert he wants to stage at Elliot Lake Airport.
It would be held on the second weekend of August, this summer.
Council voted unanimously Monday night to give its blessings to the Elliot Lake based promoter's plans, providing all safety, insurance and liability issues are satisfied.
"With just the right headliner, individual metal shows in Canada have sold out tickets within hours of going online," McKenzie told council in his written submission. "With the yearly drag race event (at Elliot Lake Airport) keeping at steady numbers and now going into its twentieth year, we must remember that this idea began as a risk also, entering into the unknown."
Even though the concert would run on the weekend, staging it would mean closing the airport to air traffic for some 5 days from Aug. 8 through Aug. 12 to set up and tear down staging and other amenities. That's a concern for city council, especially for Councillors Chris Patrie and Norman Mann who both believe the city could suffer the loss of thousands of dollars in fuel sale revenues from aviation interests during the period the airport would be closed to flights.
Coun. Patrie also told McKenzie the main stage should not be located on the runway because it will mean damage to the asphalt tarmac. Other concerns revolve around liability issues and re-locating water bomber aircraft to alternate airports at the height of the forest fire season.
McKenzie said he's glad councillors are asking hard questions now when adjustments can still be made. AstroRabbit has offered to turn over 90 percent of the revenue from the concert to city organizations and/or charities. McKenzie says that could amount to up to a half million dollar windfall for the community, based on attracting at least 10,000 fans to the outdoor show. He told council he's been approached by a number of local groups who want a share of the gate.
Before a final agreement is hammered out, city council wants more information on AstroRabbit's business plan. Corey McKenzie has promised to spend more than $50,000 of his own money for the costs of liability insurance, barriers, security, parking, police and fire protection and ticket sales.
He remains tight-lipped about his hoped-for headliner and the other bands he plans to sign up, explaining that without a final rental commitment from the city for the airport, there's no way he can get bands to sign firm appearance contracts.
- ElliotLakeToday.com