By Rick Forgione<br><a href="mailto:forgioner@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Rick</a>
Niagara Falls tourism enthusiasts have sky-high expectations for this weekend thanks to tonight’s free Eddie Money outdoor concert downtown.
“This is going to be like the second 4th of July weekend in the city this summer,” said Jerry Genova, chairman of the Tourism Advisory Board. “Our plan was to provide a top-quality entertainment act to the community and tourists, and hopefully have it serve as a catalyst for business the rest of this weekend and the end of the tourist season next weekend.”
Money certainly fits that bill. The popular rocker from the 1970s and 1980s was hand-picked by the Niagara Falls Hard Rock Cafe to headline the free concert beginning at 5 p.m. tonight down the road from the restaurant at the old Flight of Angels balloon site off of Rainbow Boulevard. Also scheduled to perform are Jon McLaughlin and Jon Peter Lewis.
Event organizers anticipate Money will take the stage about 9 p.m.
The show is expected to draw anywhere between 4,000 to 8,000 people downtown, a needed shot in the arm for businesses. Various vendors will be set up, including a beer truck, and the Hard Rock also will be selling food outside.
The city is spending $33,000 in partnership with the Hard Rock to bring in Money. He performed Friday night in Hampton Beach, N.H., and will be going to Blue Ash, Ohio, after tonight’s concert.
Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said the event complements the city’s free concert series that has been hosted downtown and at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center all summer.
“It’s a quality of life improvement for our residents that can also be enjoyed by tourists,” he said.
Booking a national act like Money is also meant to test the market for large-scale concerts in the city. Dyster credited the work of the Hard Rock, tourism advisory board, council and several downtown business and property owners to make the event happen in a short turnaround. Hard Rock officials approached the city about the event in late June.
“There’s a bunch of different entities coming together to try and make something good happen downtown,” Dyster said.
Money is no stranger to the Western New York scene, having previously performed at the Seneca Niagara Casino and Canal Concert Series in North Tonawanda.
Starting with his self-titled album in 1977, Money has released more than a dozen albums in the past 30 years, including several that went multi-platinum. His most recent release is “Wanna Go Back,” featuring new recordings on 12 classic hit songs, according to his Web site.
Genova said the area surrounding the stage will be fenced off for visitors. To gain access, a total of 4,000 bracelets will be handed out earlier in the day.
IF YOU GO
• WHAT: Free outdoor Eddie Money concert
• WHEN: 5 p.m. today
• WHERE: Site of the old Flight of Angels balloon ride off of Rainbow Boulevard in downtown Niagara Falls.
• OTHER ACTS: Opening the show will be Jon McLaughlin and Jon Peter Lewis. Eddie Money is expected to take the stage at 9 p.m.
