Aiken Promotions has released a statement defending their actions in the ongoing row over licensing for the Garth Brook concerts scheduled for the end of this month.
The company said that while Dublin City Council may have followed a “proper process”, they believe the decision was the wrong one.
In response to the suggestion that the company had behaved recklessly, Aiken said that this allegation “”besmirches a company that has made a significant contribution to the culture and economy of Ireland for 53 years”.
Aiken also said they have looked at alternative venues for the two cancelled shows but that this show had been designed specifically for Croke Park and it wouldn’t work in any other location.
The promoter defends the decision Garth Brooks made to play all five concerts or none at all, describing it as “an expression of genuine concern for his fans”.
In conclusion, the statement ends by saying that the company has responded to facilitators and politicians in a bid to find a way of holding all five concerts but “these approaches have not been encouraged by Council Officials”.
The statement reads in full:
-At all times Aiken Promotions followed the process as laid down under the event licencing procedure.
-While Council Officials may have followed a proper process, we believe that the decision was not correct.
-The demand for tickets for The Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event was unprecedented, selling almost one entire show to audiences from outside Ireland.
-If Aiken Promotions have been ‘reckless’, then the process itself is ‘reckless’ and any perceived ‘recklessness’ by Aiken Promotions must equally apply to a Council that did not advise Aiken Promotions not to proceed with the 5 concerts when they were informed.
-Comments such as ‘reckless behaviour’ besmirch the reputation of a company that for 53 years have made a significant contribution to the culture and economy of Ireland.
-All of the discussions with Council Officials in relation to the 5 concerts was about how the impact of the 5 concerts might be mitigated. Therefore the decision was a complete shock.
-Aiken Promotions has always acknowledged that 5 concerts would have an impact on the community. In our experience this impact is always reflected in the conditions applying to the licence, as it is in every event.
-Immediately after the licence decision Aiken Promotions sought alternatives that might facilitate the two cancelled shows. However this show has been specifically designed for Croke Park and it was unsuitable to any other venue. We also looked at sites such as Phoenix Park but these sites were not feasible because of the 10 week requirement for the licencing process.
-Garth Brooks response to the licence for the 3 rather than the 5 concerts was not an ultimatum, it was simply an expression of genuine concern for his fans.
-The complete misrepresentation of Garth Brooks as a person and as an artist is ill informed and is scandalous.
-We have responded to a range of facilitators and politicians in an attempt to find a way of presenting the 5 concerts. These approaches have not been encouraged by Council Officials.
