by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
“This is nothing short of a phenomenal coup for Jacksonville,” remarked Mayor John Peyton Monday morning. He was in the Everbank Arena Club to announce that Sir Elton John and Billy Joel will play the first date of their 2009 “Face 2 Face” tour at the Jacksonville Arena.
“We opened this facility five years ago as one of the 23 capital projects funded by the Better Jacksonville Plan and the Arena has exceeded all expectations,” he added.
Bob Downey, general manager of SMG, the company that manages City-owned sports and entertainment facilities, said the Arena is attracting 500,000 fans per year to concerts and other events at the venue and the March 2, 2009 debut of the multiple-Grammy Award-winning duo will mark the 120th show there.
The performers open the concert with a series of duets, playing twin pianos and trading vocals. Each artist then performs a set with his own band then a grand finale brings both back on stage for an encore.
“This venue was built so Jacksonville would be able to attract shows like this. We’re very fortunate to be able to bring this show to Jacksonville,” said Downey.
John was the first act to ever take the stage when the Arena opened and Joel also played to sold-out crowds in 2006 and 2007.
John and Joel last toured together in 2003 with 24 sold-out dates and the combination was described in Billboard magazine as “the most successful touring package of all time.”
The musicians and technicians will spend several days in Jacksonville prior to the tour’s debut date to set up the show and hold artist and technical rehearsals, said Wilson Howard, president of Live Nation Southeast, the tour’s promoter.
When asked why Jacksonville was chosen as the first stop on the 2009 tour, Howard said, “Both artists really like playing here and SMG has wonderful relationships with both Sir Elton John and Billy Joel and their management.”
Tickets go on sale Saturday at the Arena box office and TicketMaster outlets for $49.50 - $175 plus service charge.
356-2466