The big ol’ illuminated eyesore that is London’s Olympic Stadium is to be transformed into a music venue this summer.
Promoters were said to be so impressed with the sound at the sporting venue, that events originally due to take place at London’s Hyde Park are to be transferred to the Stratford venue as of July.
Contracts are yet to be signed but Dennis Hone, chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, told BBC News that he hopes to announce the summer programme in the coming weeks.
Hone said that this will include music festivals:
“The exciting thing for us is that we have the opportunity to put on some major events in the park – some music events and festivals and an anniversary weekend on 27 and 28 July.”
The news comes as yet another blow to Hyde Park, whose future as a music venue has been in doubt for months now.
In February, Westminster Council made the decision to cut the number of concerts held annually at the outdoor venue from thirteen to nine, as well as slash the amount of people who could attend these events from 80,000 to 65,000.
To make matters worse, last summer, Hyde Park was plagued by sound problems during big name concerts by Blur and Madonna, while Bruce Springsteen infamously had the plug pulled on his set after he went over the venue’s 11pm curfew.
For a taster of what is to come this summer, check out the Spice Girls performing “Wannabe” and “Spice Up Your Life” at the Olympic Stadium as part of the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games:
