Wireless, and Hard Rock Calling move to Olympic Park

Live Nation, the company who run Wireless Festival and Hard Rock Calling, has been given exclusive rights to host major music concerts in London's 560 acre Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Stadium this summer.

Events already confirmed include Wireless Festival and Hard Rock Calling, both scheduled for July (dates TBC) in Greater London's North Park, and Live Nation is also planning to host a number of concerts in the stadium during the summer.

The London Legacy Development Corporation today revealed it had entered into a contract with music promoter ahead of its full opening in spring next year.

The events will form part of a summer series on the Park to include RideLondon – a festival of cycling and road race developed by the Mayor of London and organised by The London & Surrey Cycling Partnership; and a new festival of music, sport and culture for local people to celebrate the park beginning to re-open, delivered in partnership with The Barbican and CREATE.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and Chairman of the London Legacy Development Corporation said, "Our vision for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has always been as a destination for world class sport as well as for major cultural and leisure events and last summer the world saw what an amazing venue we have created with our iconic stadium, sports facilities and new parklands.

"The confidence now shown by one of the world's leading live entertainment promoters to relocate two of its biggest music festivals from the centre of the capital is a ringing endorsement of our legacy plans. Along with the other major international sports events we have already secured this latest news proves that the park has a very bright future indeed."

John Reid, President of Concerts at Live Nation Europe, added, "As the world's leading provider of music festivals and outdoor events, Live Nation is delighted to have won the inaugural contract for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

"In the coming weeks, we will unveil the headline acts for the first Wireless and Hard Rock festivals to be staged in London's new flagship venue, which promise to be the UK's blockbuster events of 2013."

The Legacy Corporation is now seeking operators for events on the South Park from 2014 and separately for the Stadium in the next few weeks.

Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation said, This summer Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will once again host some of the greatest shows on earth. I'm delighted that leading global companies like Live Nation are interested in the stadium and the Park. We’re thrilled to be working with them this summer."

"This deal marks an important stepping stone towards securing a long-term programme of fantastic events that will make Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park a leading destination both for Londoners and those from further afield."

Live Nation revealed it was quitting Hyde Park after more than a decade of putting on music events in the park citing 'noise restrictions and logistics', and pulled out of what they call a "flawed" tender process for a new five-year contract for the central London venue. Live Nation have written a formal letter of complaint about the tender and bid process for the new contract.

Since 2001, Live Nation has organised Hyde Park events and this is only a one year contract, although it's possible the promoter could remain at the Olympic Park even after West Ham take over the venue.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will begin to open to the public from 27th July, exactly one year after the London 2012 Opening Ceremony. It will open in phases – starting with the north park – and will be fully open by spring 2014. Hosting state of the art venues, public parklands, new homes and schools, and a year round programme of events.

We understand that one or more shows for The Rolling Stones may be pencilled in along with possible shows for The Libertines, and Aerosmith.

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