Live Earth Concerts For Global Warming Search For New York City Venue
Al Gore’s Live Earth benefit concert to fight global warming is now looking for a New York City location after failing to secure a Washington DC venue. Gotham’s Prospect Park, Randall’s Island and Shea Stadium are among the sites under consideration for the July 7th event. The potential sites can all accommodate the estimated 40,000 or more people expected to attend.
Organizers had hoped to stage the event at the U.S. Capitol, but their plans have so far been blocked by Senate Republicans. Event organizers say that Gotham has always been a candidate city to host the U.S. leg of the worldwide event; others include Philadelphia. The concerts, announced in February by Al Gore and producer Kevin Wall, will take place in venues on all seven continents.
Originally, Gore and the concert’s organizers had hoped for the National Mall, but they were informed that it had already been reserved. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) suggested the front lawn area of the Capitol, but that idea has been stalled in the Rules Committee by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) vowed to block the concerts, labeling it a “partisan political event” in an interview with newspaper the Hill.
Among the artists scheduled to take part in the show are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Mayer, the Foo Fighters, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, the Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Fall Out Boy and Korn.
