RVRGIRL
Taurus
HDF Supporter
Poopsie Bubble Buns
 
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Posts: 2,220
APPD 0.28
Post Rank: 29
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Posted: Aug. 23 2006,8:31 pm |
Post # 1 |
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Havasu ready for rock
All systems are go for the city's first rock and roll festival in six years.
Public safety officials said their plans are in place; tourism officials have made their contributions and BKR Promotions starts grading for the main stage for the inaugural Lake Havasu Rockfest, Oct. 6-8, at Lake Havasu State Park.
“It's the first and it certainly won't be the last,†said promoter Ron Patterson.
No local permitting was required as the event is taking place on state-owned land, but approval from the state came from the top: The director of Arizona State Parks signed off on the special event permit.
“We look at this as a trial run for things in the future. So far the promoter and the city is working with state parks very well. We've always worked well with the city,†said Rick Knotts, Northwest regional manager for State Parks.
As part of the permit, BKR Promotions is required to pay State Parks a five-figure fee and provide security, sanitary facilities and Dumpsters for trash. Meanwhile, Lake Havasu City Police officials say they are treating the event weekend like any major holiday, as the concert will be at the same time as the championship weekend of the IJSBA Personal Watercraft World Finals at nearby crazy Horse Beach.
“The Jet Ski races generally are not a problem for us. They just require an extra presence on the water. This event (Rockfest) presents additional concerns over traffic, crowds, parking and that sort of thing,†said Police Lt. Rich Sloma. “We've met with the promoter several times on logistics and law enforcement needs. We will schedule additional officers for this event and for the world finals; and we've asked Department of Public Safety to provide additional traffic units, officers and their gang officers, GITEM,†(Gang Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission) he said
In addition, Lake Havasu City Police will have restrictions on officer's time-off and utilize off-duty personnel for the mobile field force.
Rockfest will be the third major music festival staged in Lake Havasu City in little over a decade and the second to be staged at Lake Havasu State Park. In 1994, MTV filmed Spring Break activities on the Island and Copper Canyon. And in 2000, a three-day music event was staged following events at the B3 Games put on by ESPN, also at Windsor Beach at Lake Havasu State Park.
Just like those events, the Lake Havasu City Fire Department will station emergency medical personnel on-site to man first aid stations. Fire Chief Dennis Mueller said one aid station and one Engine Company will be on-site at the personal watercraft world finals and two aid stations and one Engine Company will be at Rockfest.
“I don't think this event will attract the same type of people as MTV. This looks like a slightly older demographic,†said Mueller. “The promoter seems like he has his act together. The biggest issue seems to be parking and that's what he's working on right now.â€
Mueller added parking for the final day of the event would be shared by the Swap Meet staged at the nearby London Bridge Shopping Center.
Because permitting was conducted exclusively by the state, Lake Havasu City Mayor Harvey Jackson said there's has been no discussion with the City Council on how the costs of the public safety personnel committed to the event will be recovered.
“As of now this is at the staff level,†Jackson said. “It hasn't come before council and there's been no request to bring it to the policy makers at this point.â€
The Lake Havasu Convention and Visitor's Bureau has been the conduit to state and city officials for BKR Promotions, helping facilitate meetings as well as offer advice on staging the event. Jarrod Lyman, CVB vice president, also said the organization granted $8,000 to the promoter to get the event started.
“The CVB Board of Directors looked at several things: The positive impact to the community, room nights at local hotels and the amount of media coverage this event could receive. The board thought it prudent to make this event successful,†Lyman said.
Musically, line-ups are tentatively set as Cheap Trick, the Doobie Brothers, Government Mule and 11 other bands Friday; Blues Traveler, the Black Crowes, LIVE and 13 other bands Saturday; and on Sunday, it will be Buck Cherry, Lit and eight additional acts.
Grading for the main stage begins next week, fencing goes in after Labor Day and generators are in place for 175 confirmed vendors.
Patterson said Ticketmaster is conducting a 700,000 e-mail broadcast to Southern California, Las Vegas and Phoenix for the event.
“Plus ticket sales in Havasu are doing very well, Bashas and Hastings have been great partners,†Patterson said. “The response from the community has got to be the most encouraging thing.â€
Nine local charities will benefit from giveaways and some product sales at the event, which will also feature the $10,000 bike show and build-off.
On the Web at http://www.lakehavasurockfest.com
 Thats "MRS" RVRGIRL 2 you..... "When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila and salt."
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