United Concerts Gets Olympic Contract

United Concerts in Salt Lake City was awarded a $729,000 contract to produce 14 hours of entertainment each day during the upcoming 2002 Winter Olympics. The event runs for 15 days, Feb. 9-23.

According to Salt Lake City Olympic Planner John Sittner, United Concerts was one of the few proposals to come in under the city's $750,000 festival budget, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. Proposals ranged between $700,000 and $1.5 million.

"This is going to be the festive face of Utah," Dave McKay, vice president of United Concerts, told the paper. "It's a party not only for Olympic visitors, but the people who live here as well."

Six stages will be spread over 10 blocks along the fesival corridor.

"This isn't going to be the Rolling Stones in the park," McKay said. "Some of these stages are only 5 feet square, so there will be places for mimes, visual artists, choirs and children's groups in addition to bigger acts like bands and performing groups."