By Christopher N. Osher
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 12/21/2007 01:36:25 AM MST
Promoters of a proposed yearly music and arts festival that was expected to attract tens of thousands of people to City Park are looking for a new location after the Denver Zoo raised concerns.
Anschutz Entertainment Group announced Thursday it was exploring alternative sites.
The promoters had been quietly meeting for the past three months with city leaders and neighborhood groups to build support.
They envisioned an event similar to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, with up to 60,000 revelers and up to 60 bands on five stages for a weekend in July.
Neighborhood leaders had said the promoters had gone a long way toward easing their early concerns. Councilwoman Carla Madison, whose district encompasses City Park, also had expressed support.
The promoters revealed Thursday they were looking at other locations after the zoo declined to support the proposal because of noise concerns.
On Tuesday, Craig Piper, president of the Denver Zoo, sent e-mails to AEG Live and city officials stating he is “unable to endorse the proposed music festival in City Park.”
AEG officials said that they had been working with the zoo since September on the proposal and that it was only in November that the zoo raised concerns about noise.
Chuck Morris, the promoter and president of AEG Live Rocky Mountain Region, said 11 other zoos have concert series, including the Oklahoma City Zoo, with concerts nearby that last up to 12 hours.
He predicted that within three years, the festival would have produced $1 million from a ticket tax, and he was negotiating for the equivalent of at least half that amount to be dedicated to City Park improvements. Morris said he is still looking at locations in the city and elsewhere.
The zoo feared the sustained noise of the music festival could have spooked hoof stock and sensitive birds near the perimeter of the zoo, said spokeswoman Ana Bowie.
“The ultimate decision-maker was there was no way that we could ensure the safety of the animals,” she said. “We’ve even seen animals react to construction sounds and various things and hurt themselves and in some instances end up killing themselves.”
Piper did not return telephone messages seeking further comment.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
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