MILLENNIUM STADIUM FORCED TO CANCEL MARDI GRAS CONCERT

“We have today taken the decision to cancel our Mardi Gras post-show party as a direct result of Cardiff Council granting an all-singing, all-dancing, free street party in Charles Street on Saturday night,” said Millennium Stadium chief executive Paul Sergeant.

“We were actively encouraged to host an event to support the Mardi Gras and were delighted to do so. However, our involvement was on the basis there was both a need and desire to give Mardi Gras revellers somewhere safe to congregate in the evening without causing the mass disturbance and noise trouble to the residents of Cardiff that was experienced during last year’s festivities.

“Due to the concerns voiced by local residents and council members in conjunction with South Wales Police, the Millennium Stadium was proposed as an ideal alternative venue for the evening event.

“In order to accommodate the event the Stadium dedicated a huge amount of resources, turned away other business and spent thousands of pounds in the process. Top class bands were lined up, considerable advertising was put in place and we were made to jump through hoops to meet the demands of the noise pollution officers.

“As well as having the roof closed, and our acoustic curtain in place, we were also told we had to install extra sound proofing at the north stand end to ensure there was no problem for the residents in Westgate Street and across the river.

“Yet while we were told we had to comply with extra demands, street parties that provoked a storm of protests last year have been permitted to operate under more or less the same guidelines this year. The only stipulation that has been put on them is a 90 decibel limit for noise in the street.

“For the record, we only average 95 decibels for a major indoor concert at the Millennium Stadium. It doesn’t appear that the same rules are applying across the city and that is what has caused us the most concern.

“Our goal from the start was to work closely with the Mardi Gras organisers, who were to receive a share of the profits from our event, to provide a high level of entertainment in the best possible environment. Our intention was always to produce a fantastic night of live entertainment, but all this has now had to be cancelled.

“It has cost us money, badly affected our credibility and left us with a very bitter taste in our mouths. What makes matters all the worse is that we put our plans in place weeks ago, yet the Highways Authority met a mere four days ahead of the event to authorise the street parties.

“Had it not been for an advert that appeared in the Official Guide to the Mardi Gras, which was promoting the fact there would be a street party, we would never have been aware of it. Nobody had the courtesy to tell us.

“We knew all along that if we went head-to-head with a free gig we would be doomed to failure. That’s why we asked for assurances at the outset that this would not happen.

“We have learned a lot from the fiasco of the last 10-12 days – about ourselves, our partners in the city and about how organisations have to apply for the right to do certain things. I’m not quite sure how the residents of the many new city centre flats in Cardiff will be feeling this weekend, or those who are booked into the hotels close to the street parties.

“I guess they could be feeling as sick as we are.”