Dublin City Council has said that its decision on the Garth could not be amended or appealed. Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions expressed his disappointment at the decision and explained to RTÉ News that the Croke Park event was a once-off performance and would not be replicated anywhere else in the world.
Aiken admitted that he was “completely blindsided” by Dublin City Council and that now he must “make a decision very quickly on what is going to happen”, believing that crisis meetings being held this weekend provide “a little bit of hope”.
It is estimated that each of the concerts will bring in €10 million to the economy.
Aiken insisted that changing the dates would not be an option due the fact over 70,000 International fans from abroad have bought tickets and already made travel plans.
“You just couldn’t move it, the sheer scale of this show couldn’t be moved. I can’t see any way around it,” the promoter explained.
On July 1st a cargo ship departed from the US bound to Irish shores carrying 18 trucks with customised equipment and staging.
On Thursday evening a statement from Brooks’ camp revealed that the singer would play “all five concerts or none at all”.
Aiken defended Brooks’ saying: “He doesn’t see it as five, he sees it as the comeback event, he sees the movie. It’s an event, it’s a whole lot of things”.
The promoter insisted he “wouldn’t have gone ahead” if there was any doubt over whether or not all five concert dates could be granted.
“We have been going 53 years, I would not do this. I have never been in for a licence application when people have said ‘yes, there are no problems with this'”.
“I never came away from a meeting and said I think we are in serious trouble here. It was never indicated to me that there was a chance that these wouldn’t happen, and that is the truth”, he added.
Friends in High-Court: Dublin City Council and Aiken Promotions could battle Brooks debacle in High-Court
Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke fears the issue could now result in a in a high court battle between Dublin City Council and Aiken Promotions.
“At end of day my view is that the planning laws and consultation process on any concert within any community must be reviewed and renewed,” Burke told the Irish Independent.
“Before a promoter makes an announcement there needs to be consultation with management of that venue whether it be Croke Park or wherever. It needs to be done over a length of time and not decided upon at the 11th hour, as was the case here.
“If those laws and legislation can be used to stop the likes of the mayhem we have now we would avoid the disappointment we have now for concert goers.
“I don’t get any pleasure having to stand over the manager’s decision. My heart goes out to the men and women and children who have booked concert tickets. It’s out of my control.”
