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Kelly Clarkson to play first-ever Kinnick concert

By Loren Keller

The logistical and financial challenges of staging a music concert at Kinnick Stadium make it unlikely—though not impossible—that other stadium shows will follow the April 18 Kelly Clarkson performance announced by University of Iowa officials last week.

The two-time Grammy Award-winner will perform the first concert ever staged at Kinnick on the night before the Iowa football team’s annual spring practice.

Clarkson will be joined on the stage in Kinnick Stadium by former UI football student-athletes, members of current UI teams, and to-be-determined local entertainment that will serve as opening acts in a celebration that will happen the night before the Iowa football team's annual spring practice.

The U of I’s Student Commission on Programming and Entertainment (SCOPE) in past years has expressed an interest in holding concerts at the Kinnick though none have come to fruition.

“It is kind of a logistics challenge which is why most times most discussions didn’t go far,” said Rick Klatt, UI associated athletics director for external affairs.

“The organization putting together this series of concerts had done their homework. My understanding is they’re working with the same group that did the halftime concert at the Superbowl. This group is very skilled and has created equipment that is incredibly different than that of a Live Aid concert, which can take six or seven days to set up.”

In this case, Klatt said, the stadium’s playing field will be protected and the staging equipment will be cleared before the spring practice the following day.

“The company working with staging and facilities management understand our number one priority is the 90 young men playing football on the field the next day,” he said.

Members of SCOPE acknowledge that staging at concert at Kinnick would be difficult but remain hopeful it will be possible at some point.

“We’re very interested in how it all plays out and how successful it can be,” said Greg Thompson, SCOPE’s public relations director. “It can be a chore at Kinnick because it’s all tunnels. We have to crane lift everything in.”

But “depending on how it goes and if they’re willing to work with us we’d be happy to find our way in there.”
Added Lee Bierman of SCOPE’s special projects committee:  “It does certainly open the possibility but normally for larger venue concerts we do Carver-Hawkeye Arena simply because it’s indoors and you don’t have to worry about the weather or anything.”

“There’s been talk about it but it’s really hard to rent Kinnick,” he said. “Obviously the athletic department can grant themselves the ability to rent it, but it’s hard to get permission since it’s basically a landmark.”

The Clarkson concert is part of a the “Gridiron Bash,” a national event that includes concerts similar to the one being put on at Kinnick at more than 20 other NCAA Division I football schools. Other concerts scheduled for that day include Fergie at Penn State, Counting Crows at Colorado, Taylor Swift at Tennessee, the Goo Goo Dolls at Kansas State and ZZ Top at Texas A&M.

Ticket information for the event will be announced later his week. For more information about the event visit gridironbash.com.