Moncton Sweetens Concert Pot

Moncton’s Magnetic Hill festival grounds used to draw huge concerts but things slowed down in recent years as promoters took many shows elsewhere.

City GM Maurice Belliveau hopes that will change thanks to a new concert fund established through a partnership between the provincial government and the city. He told CBC News the fund should “help sweeten the pot for promoters to attract concerts and acts.”

Other communities have been very aggressive in their dealings with promoters, and Belliveau explained the fund is necessary to remain competitive.

“It’s going to be a great return on investment,” he added. “We know that there is millions of dollars in economic spinoffs per show and so it more than offsets the minor money we’re putting on the table.” The city declined to disclose how much public money would go toward the fund, CBC noted.