It's hard to believe, but Halifax was out done by both N.B. and P.E.I. this year when it comes to concert events.

pretty simple the reasons why. Events Halifax Choked on the Rolling Stones concert at 40000 people compared to Moncton with 85000. Until the HRM has a Plan for a Concert venue/stadium on a accessable greenfield site the HRM will be faced with this situation for the next while.
Moncton and Charlottetown also has the advantage of Camping for concert goers.
Moncton has the advanatages of a concert venue with the infrastructure and easier access for the acts.

No Peter Kelly's leadership didnt make the situation chasing the commonwealth games lead by fred mac gillivray certainly didnt help to build a concert venue or pay as you go stadium development.

not to defend Kelly but I wonder what having a concert in the Commons every year has to do with Leadership? The Rolling Stones was the first and Donald K Donald even stated about the increased amount of infrastructure required compared to most places with outdoor concert venues.
Until you have the civic infrastructure and Finances in place you are never going to progress to even dreaming of a stadium.
Sue Uteck can say all she wants of how she would have tried to get more money for the commonwealth games but the political reality is the Harper government has nothing to gain in metro because the Tory candidates finished 20 points behind the winners in third places.

Sue and Sheila you got the 2,5 million for the bid and that was going to be about it because the Tories wisely showed the pledge a year before the bid with the committee trying to soft pedalling the costs. Reality then kicked into the public and province house thus killing the bid with gravity LOL. 400 million max was 150 million better then Sheila Copps was afforded from the liberal government for the 2010 commonwealth games international bid for her home riding of Hamilton West. 550 million is all the tories are affording the vancouver olympic committee for funding with Vancouver MP David Emerson Crossing the floor of the house from the liberals to the tories.

Halifax does not deserve a blank check to provide civil servants with another white elephant LOL. The real lack of leadership is why Fred Mac gillirvay has been allowed to lead council down the garden path for a decade missing the opportunity to host the most successful outdoor sports event in Canadian history this year . The Fifa U20 world cup. Victoria and Burnaby hosted with 11000 and 14000 seat stadiums but hey Fred would then not be able to Roam the world passing out 10000 dollars of our tax money to places like the Guernsey islands which has an average per capita wage of over 50000 dollar compared to Canada's 35000 per capita GDP.
Gee I think leadership might have something to do with common sense and not hosting a a risky venture like a Rock Show After Moncton hosted the same show the year before.

This trivial matter says tons about Kelly's lack of leadership. When something as simple as a concert can't be brought to Halifax because of politics, if nothing else, it tells me that the person at the top has got to go.

There was no major concert this year because HRM and council couldn't agree who was going to be the body to negotiate on behalf of the HRM. When they finally decided to let it be Events Halifax - who staged a FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL Rolling Stones concert last year - it was too late to get any RESPECTABLE promoter to bring a show here. Big name concerts are booked MONTHS in advance not on a whim and in the case of a major outdoor show you need to ensure that the promoter is willing to be your PARTNER not just take any profits and leave you to pay the bills!

And I wish everyone would stop shitting on Fred MacGillivray! A stadium has been talked about for years with nothing being done because all 3 levels of government have refused to put up ANY MONEY - dispite giving other provinces funding for stadiums and arenas! MacGillivray had an innovative way to get us a stadium (and a lot of other great and needed infrastructure)and get the Feds to cough up money. In addition the 2014 Games would have brought thousands of spectators to the city - argue if you will but sport tourism is a $2 BILLION industry in Canada! I say we need more people like MacGillivray who are willing to put their necks out and try something new!

Although one poster described this concert issue as trivial, it has the potential to become a defining moment in Kelly's political career. Quite possibly the defining moment.

His stand on telling to different stories on offering a free venue with full services to promoters and his dabble in the concert promotion business has taken a toll on his political capital.

I could in fact be his "Jump The Shark Moment"