CityLife

Heaton Park prepares for Oasis' arrival

The stage takes shape in the sunshine

HEATON Park has seen nothing like it since Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1982.

This week 210,000 Oasis followers of home-grown rock superstars Oasis will turn up to worship their heroes.

And it could mean the start of a new era for the council-owned park as a world-class outdoor concert venue.

Six months of planning for the three concerts by Manchester council and other agencies have meant improvements to the park’s infrastructure which make it a contender for future large-scale events.

Burnage’s Gallagher brothers and co. will perform on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at the biggest concerts ever staged in the park.

Concert promoters SJM Concerts selected Heaton Park, one of Europe’s largest municipal parks, as the hometown location for the band’s biggest ever tour of open-air venues.
 
A specially created temporary arena is being constructed in the park to host the 70,000 ticket holders for each concert.

Park and ride

Visitors will be able to take advantage of a special park and ride scheme, as well as shuttle buses to and from the city centre which have also been arranged to complement the existing public transport to make travel easier for fans and to cause minimum impact to the local community.

Councillor Mike Amesbury Executive Member for Culture & Leisure at the council said: “This three-day event clearly positions Heaton Park as an attractive alternative to other venues in the region.

“We have worked hard with Bury and Rochdale councils, Greater Manchester Police, GMPTE, concert promoters SJM and the local community to ensure minimum disruption and are looking forward to welcoming visitors to what promises to be a real milestone event.”

A community information hotline is also in place for the duration of the concerts for anyone with any queries. Call 0161 954 9003.
The hotline will be open at the following times: June 3 2.30pm – 8.30pm; June 5 8.00am – 8.00pm; June 8 8.00am – 12noon and concert days – June 4, 6, and 7, 8am – 1am. For more Manchester City council information visit www.manchester.gov.uk.

YOU can read an interview with Liam, check out Oasis' Manc gigography and get more info on the gigs to the right.