Live music openers for Adelaide Oval in doubt

Recent tragedy in the Rolling Stones camp has led to doubt being cast over their appearance as the first live act at the newly-refurbished Adelaide Oval.

Sources at the venue have told TMN that they are unsure as to whether the Stones will be the first band to grace the new Oval stage. It is thought the band’s appearance was the jewel in the crown of a government-backed re-opening of the ground as a major entertainment hub for South Australia.

While entertainment promotion company iEC has confirmed to media that the Rolling Stones will return to perform the stadium at the end of the AFL season, it’s unclear whether the band will be the first live band to play the new 53,000-seater.

The State Government spent $450,000 on redevelopment plans for the Adelaide Oval, however Tony Cochrane from iEC has told The Advertiser the band will be back this October and taxpayer funds have been recouped.

This Saturday Adelaide Oval will host the AFL Showdown XXXVI; the derby will now mark the venue’s official reopening since The Stones postponed their  ’14 On Fire’ Australasia tour yesterday.

“We sold over 50,000 tickets [to The Rolling Stones] so we don’t have a choice,” iEC’s Tony Cochrane says. “The Stones genuinely wanted to be the first act at Adelaide Oval and we’re still aiming for that. Both Mick and Charlie are huge cricket followers and all of that really counted for something when we did the deal back in August. None of that has changed.”