SARSstock

[Goober Mcfly]

Well, as this is a benefit concert expressly focussed on countering the SARS tragedy's economic effects, I for one certainly hope they have a few people with SARS there. I mean, the concert IS for them isn't it?

So who's going?

 

[Cardinal Fang]

Just before coming into to work I could spot about 150 people at the gates. I'm guessing they are trying to see whether or not they can get in for the sound check. My friends and I will head to the roof of our building for a better glimpse.

 

[wrong hole]

I will be going sars rocks 2003


there's also a party at atlantis in ontario place tonight.....it will be the stones and most of the bands along with all the movie stars...should be fun

I don't understand how tonight's party goes til 4 am...i am going to be wrecked....how the hell are the performers going to perform if they party til 4 am....

 

[Cardinal Fang]

Have you seen the Stones lately. Their faces tell a lifetime of partying experiences!

 

[Goober Mcfly]

LMAO, red!

 

[DenWa]

If I had tickets I would start sneezing and coughing uncontrollably while standing in the crowd and watch the mayhem ensue...

DW

 

[xarir]

If I had tickets I would start sneezing and coughing uncontrollably while standing in the crowd and watch the mayhem ensue...

DW

You'll do this while eating some Alberta beef right?

 

[zog]

It's a concert

I'm sure that the concert will be fun for those that go. There are many good bands involved and it should be quite a show.

I know that the city has paid many millions to bring in the bands as well as hundreds of thousands for organization and security.

I don't se how this will help the city...people will show up, see the show, and go home. Torontonians will be left with the bill.

Have fun at the show but don't mistake it for anything more.

Zog.

 

[McMac]

Do you think Idomo have moved all of their furniture from the ground floor just in case he gets a repeat of the Pope "Poo-Stock"?

 

[Big Bear]

Economic Benefits

Zog,

I usually find your posts well thought out and logical but to me you are way off base here. There errors in your post such as the fact that the bulk of the costs are paid by the Feds, the province and Molsons, not the city. Yes we will have to pay for the policing and extra for the TTC but those costs are not a lot compared to the total cost and more importantly the benefits to us.

First and foremost is the fact that people all over the world are going to see Toronto in an entirely different light than they currently do. You have no idea how many people there are around the world today that think SARS is running wild through our population and people are dying everywhere. I do a lot of business internationally and you would be amazed at the questions we get asked. Such as "Can I get SARS in my hotel room" or I understand that a lot of people are getting SARS when they land at the airport or how often do you have to change your mask. These questions are being asked by business people, not some idiot who doesn't know any better.

The world media is going to be there covering the concert and they are also going to be reporting on why the concert is happening and in all probability showing what people are doing in the city and the fact it is safe here.

With hotels that are half empty and restaurants crying for business this can do nothing but help.

We need people to see that Toronto is safe to come to or it is all going to cost us a lot. In our business (wines and spirits) our restaurant and bar business is off over 30% from the same period a year ago and we consider ourselves lucky because we have a number of new items we are selling. If we look at our year on year business with pre-existing brands we are off over 50%. The net cost has been a staff reduction and further cutbacks are going to come if it doesn't turn around soon.

Zog the economic benefits of this concert are huge and people tend to gravely underestimate them. For example this could determine the success this week of Caribana from an out of town perspective. If the concert can convince Americans that it is safe to come to Toronto then attendance will increase. Likewise it will help keep those conventions that are considering going somewhere else so don't think we are going to just stuck with the bills, this will help pay for all those bills.

 

[TheNiteHwk]

Media reports and broadcasts...

In various media reports some people from out of town were quoted as saying they will stay in TO for a couple of days. Some said even a week. The greatest effect this event will have though I think is in the international broadcasts and news reports during and after that will be worldwide.

As far as $$ benifit to SARS victims or medical people or hospitals and such... I really wonder how long it will take for those funds to trickle down and exactly who will get it. And what about the low paid hotel staff and others who got laid off and are now lining up at food banks... who is helping them? I am by no means starving but I personally lost hundreds of $$ because of the SARS scare... these people though were really hit hard.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Paul/IT: If, God forbid, that happens, will those deaths be added to the SARS death numbers? In a round about way they would be related...

</callous>

*waves to Troops*

 

[Ref]

Rumour has it that the Stones wanted "Hells Angels" to handle the security. After hearing that news, Jefferson Airplane decided to postpone their reunion appearance.

 

[TheNiteHwk]

SARSstock vs Papal Mass $$ spending

Don't forget the Papal event people were here for a whole week. They were touring various locations all over TO. Everywhere you went that week there was sea of those red backpacks. The cash was flowing so easly one of them tried to give the 'shakey lady' $50. Don't kid yourself, these people got $$ and they were spending it.

A few out of town SARSstock people may stay in town over night. Most will sleep all the next day. (Unless they are still too high, lol.) They will get up, garb a bite and leave.

 

[Big Bear]

I'm continually amazed at the negativity in the posts on this board. Paul/IT do you really think Molson and the various levels of government would be involved if they thought there was going to be a problem. I suspect there will be some rowdiness after the show, as there are after most rock concerts but with something like 3,000 police and security people I doubt it will get out of hand.

As far as who puts more into the economy I think it is a moot point. The pope's visit attracted a lot of young people who stayed with families or slept in churches and didn't spend much because they seldom went out. Despite that a number of restaurants, particularly the less expensive kind (Manderin etc.) did quite well that week.

Finally I suspect almost as many Stones shirts will be sold as "Pope shirts", assuming there were any for sale. (I still remember the old SNL "Pope on a rope" skit)

I think this concert is going to do a lot of good for a lot of people, not just those in Toronto but even if it is the GTA so what. It still is the engine that drives the Ontario economy not Kitchener, not Midland and not even Mississauga despite what the residents there might think.

 

[TheNiteHwk]

"Finally I suspect almost as many Stones shirts will be sold as "Pope shirts", assuming there were any for sale. (I still remember the old SNL "Pope on a rope" skit)"

They will have official T-shirts etc for sale inside I am sure and will sell lots. It's been reported that some 'unofficial' venders outside the site have already been chased away by by-law LE. There are others who would like to make a few bucks as well off this event... sort of off campus so to speak. Personally I hope they do well.

Witness:

http://www.sars-tshirts.com/

"No they're taking a calculated risk to earn big money that's all. Even if there's a fatality politicians will say " well hey that's not so bad considering the number of people that attended"."

I agree Paul... to think there is a possibilty that there may be a fatality at this HUGE event is only being more objective then negitive I think. Case in point... they have a 400 bed field hospital there.

 

[Ref]

Rumour also has it that Bruce Dern will be piloting the blimp...

 

[Big Bear]

Big Money?

Again I come back to the negativity on display here. How do you get big money? First any profits are going to the charities not to the governments or Molson so how do they make "big money". Second they said $1 from every ticket sold would go to the charities off the top.

Therefore let's assume 500,000 people at $20 a ticket, that works out to $10,000,000 even without a calculator. As the costs are budgeted at this amount the best they can do is make back their original investment. At the current projected attendance of 430,000 they actually are going to lose $1.4 million.

And this doesn't count all the advertising and promo $ that Molson has laid out over and above their commitment. The 10 million is the cost to stage the event and doesn't include promotion costs.

Make no mistake Molson get a lot of PR out of this and I'm sure they figure it is money well spent but there is no way they or any of the governments are making big money here.

Finally I doubt they expect anyone to die at this event. They have a 400 bed hospital as a prudent measure but I'll bet their expectation is that they get a lot of sunstroke/heatstroke victims with the weather and little else.

Remember Woodstock had no deaths but two births and with the exception of Altamonte and one concert in Copenhagen a few years ago no deaths at any of these big events. They have at least a half dozen this size in Europe every year, remember the Queens birthday party and no deaths.

Paul in my opinion you are being negative and unjustly so.

 

[xarir]

Good Show!

I've got the TV on CBC right now (9:30pm). All I can say is - wow! They're showing highlights from the day and there were a lot of people there. The night shots (live) show even more people. I can certainly believe there are up to 500,000 people there tonight. And the great thing is, in true Toronto fashion it seems that everyone is just out having a good time.

I'll be interesting to see the crowd shots when Mick and crew take the stage.

 

[xarir]

Nice tits!

CBC is showing AC/DC now (almost 11:00). I'm kind of surprised their letting the swearing etc on air. Not that I mind really, but it's kind of weird to hear that on CBC.

But just now, they had a shot of some lady in the crowd near the stage who was topless. Nice tits! Must have been 36D or 38D. Very nice, looked all natural, and the rest of her looked pretty good too. And all this on CBC!

Now that's a good use of my tax dollars!