Attendance records set at The Lawn concert venue

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 22, 2007) – This summer's attendance at the National City concert series at The Lawn in White River State Park doubled last year's attendance. More than 50,000 people attended 11 concerts this summer compared to 26,000 people at the same number of concerts last year.

The National City concert series season began June 15 with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the music of Led Zeppelin and ended Aug. 9 with Bryan Adams with special guest George Thorogood & The Destroyers. In between, the season featured 3 sold out shows with The Fray, Bob Dylan and Incubus. Other acts that played included OAR, Snow Patrol, and Alison Krauss & Union Station.

"It was a phenomenal season," said Terry J Hennessey, general manager of The Lawn at White River State Park and executive director of the Murat Centre. "The venue enhancements sent a good signal to the artists that the venue is top-notch. Almost every act saw huge attendance here compared to other venues where they played."

Improvements at the venue this year included a new seasonal stage that made it easier for traveling groups to load shows in and out and helped identify the venue and provided opportunities for signage all summer long. In addition, there was a new tiered reserved VIP seating area.

"The attendance record shows the improvements made to the venue this year were worthwhile," said Bob Whitt, executive director of the White River State Park Development Commission. "It's just an excellent place to enjoy a show. The acoustics, stage and skyline view can't be beat. Next year will be even better as we're working with architects to add permanent restrooms for the Park that will be used for the concert series."

The Lawn at White River State Park was named one of the top 100 outdoor concert venues in the world in 2006 by Pollstar magazine. That includes such famous venues as the Hollywood Bowl and the Molson in Toronto.

Located at White River State Park, The Lawn is off Washington Street, across from the entrance to Victory Field and overlooking the White River. Capacity at the venue is between 6,000 and 7,500 depending on the configuration of reserved and general admission seating.

Live Nation books nationally known acts in concerts at The Lawn each summer. Sponsors for the 2007 season were National City, AT&T, Coors Brewing Company, Hardee's, Coca-Cola, Republic Waste and Recycling Services, Brown Forman, WTTS 92.3 and PODS.

For information about sponsorship of the 2008 season, please call Kelly Ford with Live Nation at 317.249.2756. For VIP seating information, please call the VIP Hotline at 317.249.2752 or email vipseatsindy@livenation.com.

Located in the southwest quadrant of downtown Indianapolis, White River State Park is home to The Lawn, Indianapolis Zoo/White River Gardens, Indiana State Museum, IMAX® Theater, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, NCAA Hall of Champions, Victory Field and the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial. White River State Park has more to do than you ever knew.

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