WIN GOLDEN TICKETS ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY TO SEE ELTON JOHN
Stadium to be transformed
PREPARATIONS for the biggest show Cairns has ever hosted will begin tomorrow and it is unlikely residents will miss the spectacle unfolding.
Nine semi-trailers of equipment, five semi-trailers of seating and eight trucks of sound and lighting equipment will roll into town this weekend as work starts on transforming Cazalys Stadium into a performance venue worthy of rock star Sir Elton John.
A team of 25 will start preparations this weekend and up to 500 technicians, engineers, musicians and other experts will work until the final minutes before the September 30 concert begins.
Chugg Entertainment tour producer Matthew LazarusHall said Sir Elton’s Yamaha grand piano, one of two shipped to Australia for the tour, would be transported from Mackay.
The north Queensland centre got their taste of the entertainer’s energetic and bold show last night.
“It’s a big show, it’s like a game of Tetris and Elton’s peo- ple are super fantastic and professional,” Mr Lazarus-Hall said.
“Mackay’s stuff all gets pulled down and will be used in Cairns, but with extra because Cairns is going to be a much bigger show.
“When you go to any stadium you challenge the original design. We understand for 51 weeks of the year Cazalys is an AFL ground and for one week it’ll be different.”
Mr Lazarus-Hall said unlucky fans who missed out on tickets should check moshtix.com.au this week.
As the stadium is built, he said more space could become available for seats.
Around the city, Sir Elton fever is growing and Cairns Regional Council has even installed a sign on Airport Dr welcoming the pop star.
A Cairns Regional Council spokeswoman said the arrival of Sir Elton John further established Cairns as an event destination.
“The sign is a small way in which we can express our excitement and to welcome both the man himself and other visitors to our region who have travelled for the concert,” she said.
Some residents though are embracing the hype because they know they will not be able to escape it.
Parramatta Park resident Christine Howes has invited friends over to listen to the concert from her veranda.
“We can’t get out of this, so I’d rather do something and sit on the deck with a drink, than be trying to watch the TV over the music,” she said.
“My friend’s reactions have ranged from excited to they’d rather poke their own eyes out.
“I have been to several Elton John concerts and I still love a lot of his early stuff.”
MACKAY’S STUFF ALL GETS PULLED DOWN AND WILL BE USED IN CAIRNS, BUT WITH EXTRA BECAUSE CAIRNS IS GOING TO BE A MUCH BIGGER SHOW MATTHEW LAZARUS-HALL