Final Hip gig to be shown at convention centre
The Scotiabank Convention Centre will be opening its theatre doors Aug. 20 to host a free live streaming of The Tragically Hip’s final gig on its 24’ by 18’ big screen with real concert sound.
The show starts at 8:30 p.m. and is expected to run to 11:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the 19 and older event will be available online at sccniagara.ticketpro.ca on Friday at 10 a.m.
While tickets are free, space is limited.
A donation to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society — Niagara Wheels of Hope program — can be made when reserving a ticket or on the day of the show.
As part of the Man Machine Poem tour, The Tragically Hip partnered with the CBC to broadcast the Aug. 20 show live from the band’s hometown of Kingston.
Tickets for the ban’s final tour have sold out almost instantly.
The announcement of the CBC broadcast comes after fans wrote open letters and circulated online petitions calling on the network to air the concern.
Noel Buckley, president and general manager of the convention
Noel Buckley, president and general manager of the convention centre
centre, said the livestream event will allow Niagara Falls residents and visitors an opportunity to see an “iconic Canadian band” at the last stop on their 2016 tour.
“It’s also an opportunity to raise a little bit of funds for the Canada Cancer Society — Niagara Wheels of Hope,” he said.
“CBC made it available to cities throughout Canada and in cooperation with Niagara Falls, we thought it would be a nice idea.”
Buckley said the centre plans on “flat-flooring” the theatre to make it feel more like a “party atmosphere.
“There will be cruiser tables and obviously we’ll drop down the big screen and it’s a 19-plus event, so there will be alcoholic beverages for sale. But really it’s about an opportunity to really enjoy one of the great, iconic bands of Canada and raise a little bit of money locally for the cancer society, and also provide a little bit of activation for the city during a relatively busy tourist time.”
He said if there’s a “massive demand” for tickets, the centre could move the event into one of its exhibit halls.
“We can actually move to an exhibit hall and comfortably put 1,800 (people) in an exhibit hall or put 3,000 to 4,000 in two exhibit halls. But I think the plan is to keep an intimate opportunity in the theatre for about 1,000 or 1,200 people and as I say, provide a really nice, casual, easy atmosphere for what we expect will be an absolute great show from Kingston, Ontario.”
The Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines will also be broadcasting the Canadian group’s last concert for free live on its scoreboard.
The Hip played at the arena last year.
The band has embarked on a goodbye tour this summer after frontman Gord Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
The Canadian Cancer Society will also be accepting donations at the St. Catharines event in Downie’s honour.
But really it’s about an opportunity to really enjoy one of the great, iconic bands of Canada and raise a little bit of money locally for the cancer society, and also provide a little bit of activation for the city during a relatively busy tourist time.”