Atlantic City Leaders Finalize Plans For Two Huge Concerts On Beach
By Mike DeNardo
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) -- Atlantic City leaders met at Boardwalk Hall Tuesday morning to make final plans for two big concerts on the beach.
Maroon 5 rocks the beach this Sunday, and Rascal Flatts plays next Thursday. As many as 50,000 fans are expected to buy tickets to each show. Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian says crowd flow should be better than last year's free shows, with wider access points to the beach.
"We rebuilt them and doubled the width of them, so twice the amount of people can come up and down the steps," the mayor says. "So we think there will be easier access going up and down. We made sure that we an additional handicapped ramp. So that it gives you good access. And there are two additional exits and entrances."
Crews have already started building the stage and other concert structures, just north of Arkansas Avenue.
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority is giving $1 million to fund the shows, to promote non-gaming options, says CRDA executive director John Palmieri.
"We just see this as part of a larger effort to create energy behind visitation," he says, "especially through the summer season."
Mayor Guardian expects the beach concerts to become annual events.