World's biggest live music company understood to be in advanced talks to put on events at East End site
Live Nation, the world's biggest live music company which last year quit Hyde Park as a venue, is in talks to host gigs at the Olympic stadium in East London from this summer.
The company is understood to be in advanced talks to host events at the London Olympic stadium, which is set to re-open with an anniversary weekend of music gigs on the 27 and 28 July to mark the first anniversary of the start of the 2012 games.
Live Nation has been considering its options since quitting Hyde Park after more than a decade of putting on music events including Live 8, the Wireless Festival and Hard Rock calling.
The company pulled out of negotiations to renew its Hyde Park deal in October, citing issues including noise restrictions and a "flawed" tender process for the contract to host large-scale events from 2013 to 2017.
As well as concerts in the main stadium it is thought that a series of gigs are planned for other parts of the extensive Olympic park complex in Stratford, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
It is not clear if Live Nation, which also owns Ticketmaster, is in exclusive talks to run events in the park.
Dennis Hone, the chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation charged with securing the future of the Olympic complex, said in a BBC interview that he hopes to name the big summer acts by the end of the month.
In December Premier League football club West Ham was given three months to improve the terms of its deal to move into the Olympic stadium. If it fails to do so the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, will pursue alternate options including more music, athletics and other one-off sporting events.
It is understood Live Nation's music events could continue in the Olympic park even if West Ham becomes the primary occupant of the stadium.
A spokeswoman for London Legacy said: "The Legacy Corporation is exploring a number of options with event organisers to bring concerts to the Stadium by July this year. These talks are ongoing and an announcement will be made in due course."
Live Nation declined to comment.
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