Spring Break
A&M cancels ZZ Top concert
By: Kenny Ryan
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: News
ZZ Top fans suffered a blow this weekend when reports emerged that the band's planned Kyle Field concert might be in peril - reports which were proved true. A slew of news stories laid the blame for the canceled concert on everything from lagging ticket sales to a direct command from the NCAA.
Shawn Garrity, president of MSL sports and entertainment, the organization behind Gridiron Bash and the ZZ Top concert, said that for many universities, ticket sales had begun as recently as three weeks ago. He said that some universities had sold so many tickets that they asked MSL to have the concert in another form, apart from the football aspect.
"Alabama['s ticket sales] had come out of the gate the fastest. They were just at or around 10,000, last I saw," Garrity said. "Texas A&M was just behind them. LSU had just gone on sale for just three weeks, a lot of other schools had just gone on sale. A&M['s ticket sales] were closer to 5,000."
Later reports portrayed the story as a battle between MSL and the NCAA, stating that MSL was blaming the NCAA for canceling the 16 nationwide Gridiron Bash events.
Again, Garrity told a different tale: "We have had ongoing conversations [with the NCAA, and it] didn't shut this down. A lot of people made them the Dastardly Dan, but it's [not the case]."
The NCAA rule in question states student athletes can't promote third party events. Garrity said that it was a conference misinterpretation of the Gridiron Bash that led to a conflict with this rule.
"The request came through the SEC [Southeastern Conference] compliance office," Garrity said. "We aren't saying that it was anything malicious, but how [the Gridiron Bash concert] was represented wasn't at all accurate and that's what caused a lot of the confusion.
"The NCAA and the conferences don't start things, they respond to things, and someone had talked to them asking if the players [being involved in the Gridiron Bash concerts was legal]."
Shawn Garrity, president of MSL sports and entertainment, the organization behind Gridiron Bash and the ZZ Top concert, said that for many universities, ticket sales had begun as recently as three weeks ago. He said that some universities had sold so many tickets that they asked MSL to have the concert in another form, apart from the football aspect.
"Alabama['s ticket sales] had come out of the gate the fastest. They were just at or around 10,000, last I saw," Garrity said. "Texas A&M was just behind them. LSU had just gone on sale for just three weeks, a lot of other schools had just gone on sale. A&M['s ticket sales] were closer to 5,000."
Later reports portrayed the story as a battle between MSL and the NCAA, stating that MSL was blaming the NCAA for canceling the 16 nationwide Gridiron Bash events.
Again, Garrity told a different tale: "We have had ongoing conversations [with the NCAA, and it] didn't shut this down. A lot of people made them the Dastardly Dan, but it's [not the case]."
The NCAA rule in question states student athletes can't promote third party events. Garrity said that it was a conference misinterpretation of the Gridiron Bash that led to a conflict with this rule.
"The request came through the SEC [Southeastern Conference] compliance office," Garrity said. "We aren't saying that it was anything malicious, but how [the Gridiron Bash concert] was represented wasn't at all accurate and that's what caused a lot of the confusion.
"The NCAA and the conferences don't start things, they respond to things, and someone had talked to them asking if the players [being involved in the Gridiron Bash concerts was legal]."
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