Three years ago, opponents of the proposed Haymarket Arena argued that even if a new, large building was constructed in Lincoln, no major shows would play there and even if they did, the Lincoln market wouldn’t support the concerts with their high ticket prices.
In 10 minutes Saturday morning, that consternation was put to rest for good.
That’s how long it took for Pink’s Nov. 9 concert, the first Pinnacle show, to sell out. That's 14,000 seats -- an impressive number and about the maximum the new arena can hold for concerts.
Throw in the fact that Lincoln had the second largest pre-sale for the Pink tour behind only New York’s Madison Square Garden and you’ve got a measure of strong support.
Pink’s tour is among the biggest of the year and at the top of pop shows. So much for the argument that big acts won’t come to Lincoln, a contention that will further be dismissed when the next arena concerts are announced.
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The first of those will be announced in mid April, the second in May.
There are also more shows being booked for the arena. I’m more than confident that there will be at least one big show in October and maybe more.
Pinewood scores with Lumineers
Over the past couple months, I’ve heard plenty of whining about this summer’s Pinewood Bowl concert lineup -- that it wasn’t as “cool†as last year’s, that it had squandered the goodwill generated by offerings like My Morning Jacket and Mumford & Sons with the inclusion of Styx and, especially, Ted Nugent, and that it was going to become a fair-circuit-like venue.
Time for the whiners to shut up.
On Tuesday, a May 30 show by The Lumineers was announced for Pinewood. That show’s as cool as they come and the tickets will be as hot as you’re going to find.
If you want to see the Denver-based folk rock band best known for its song “Ho Hey,†you’d best get onto the Ticketmaster system or hit the Pershing Center box office at 10 a.m. Friday. It won’t sell out in 10 minutes, like Pink, but the 4,500 tickets will go fast.
And if you go to the show, don’t be late -- openers Cold War Kids are great.
Here’s the Pinewood Bowl lineup so far:
May 11 -- Styx, REO Speedwagon, Ted Nugent
May 24 -- Alice In Chains, Bullet for My Valentine and Halestorm
May 30 -- The Lumineers, Cold War Kids, J. Roddy Walston & The Business
June 21 -- Widespread Panic
Two more shows are still to be announced for the Pioneers Park amphitheater. Those shows will either happen in June or in late July after the annual Pinewood Bowl musical ends its run.
By the time the series is completed, I’m guessing it will be as strong as last summer's, even if Nugent, who is simultaneously ridiculous and offensive, is involved.
Stir Cove lineup announced
The 2013 concert lineup at Stir Cove outside Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs was announced this week with tickets for all shows to go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. via the Ticketmaster system.
Now in its 10th year, the concert series opens with 1990s rockers Bush and runs through an Aug. 30 performance by Chicago -- which tells you about everything you need to know about what’s being offered this year. The Stir Cove concerts are now open to all ages.
Here’s the Stir Cove lineup, with more shows likely to be added later:
May 23: Bush
May 24: Cheap Trick
May 31: LL Cool J w/ Ice Cube, Public Enemy, De La Soul
June 1: The Black Crowes
June 4: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
June 7: Trace Adkins
June 27: She & Him
June 28: Billy Idol
July 3: The Avett Brothers
July 13: Alice Cooper
July 19: Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, Gin Blossoms, Vertical Horizon, Fastball
Aug. 2: Darius Rucker
Aug. 9: Doobie Brothers
Aug. 17: Peter Frampton and B.B. King
Aug. 30: Chicago
Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 402-473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com, or follow him on Twitter at .
L. Kent Wolgamott
Entertainment reporter/columnist
