Virgin Fest Eyes New Site

The owner of Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course has filed for bankruptcy, leaving not only one of horse racing’s prestigious Triple Crown events in question, but possibly the fourth Virgin Mobile Festival as well.

Fears there would be no fourth Virgin fest appear to be unfounded, though organizers I.M.P. and its chief exec, Seth Hurwitz, are so far keeping a tight lid on details, including location and possible dates.

However, Virgin Mobile spokeswoman Jayne Wallace has been only slightly more forthcoming to Baltimore-area media.

“Nothing is definite,” she told the Baltimore Sun. “But for all intents and purposes, we fully expect to hold another festival. We have some exciting ideas we’re looking at.”
Apparently, one of those ideas involves moving Virgin Mobile Festival, which reportedly drew 60,000 last year, to 17,000-capacity Merriweather Post Pavilion. Not coincidentally, the Merriweather is booked and operated by I.M.P.

Howard County, Md., executive Ken Ulman told the Business Journal that Hurwitz said he was weighing potential venues for the show and that Merriweather is among them.

But when contacted by Pollstar, Hurwitz was more coy about plans.

“We are working on big plans for both this year and the future, but right now there is nothing to announce,” Hurwitz said.