Morris’ Mile High Dream

AEG Live’s Chuck Morris has a vision for a two-day festival in Denver’s City Park that he hopes will draw 50,000 fans to hear as many as 60 bands – and if the city council approves his idea, the Mile High Festival may see its inaugural weekend July 19-20.

Morris and other AEG Live officials have been meeting with residents, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and members of the city council, including Councilwoman Carla Madison, who represents the City Park district, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Morris was in just such a meeting and unavailable at press time.

If AEG’s Rocky Mountain division gets the green light for the Mile High Festival, it would become the latest "destination" festival for the company, including the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in California. Locally, AEG Live Rocky Mountain produced the Monolith festival last summer at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

But the Mile High Festival would have more in common with Coachella than Monolith, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

While the proposed festival does not appear to face significant opposition from city officials, according to the paper, it likely will not be without some controversy as the first ticketed event in the park. Alcohol sales could also raise eyebrows.

"The parking and extra people wandering around the streets is an issue. But I think it’s a good idea," Forrest Hobbs of North City Park Civic Association told the paper. "It’ll give the City Park area good exposure. It’s a national event, not just a local event."

A portion of tickets sales reportedly will be earmarked for improvements at City Park, which includes the nationally recognized Denver Zoo and Museum of Nature and Science, and to host a summer jazz series.