Unless you're a Vikings fan, go ahead and leave the purple shirts at the back of the closet: Rumors of Prince performing an outdoor concert in St. Paul next month have come up short. No pun intended.
A city staffer who was in on the planning behind the always-tentative event confirmed today that the show is dead in the water. "We would love to host another great concert event in Saint Paul," said Joe Spencer, Director of Arts and Culture in the mayor's office, "but we are postponing indefinitely at this point."
City staff was extra careful not to even mutter the "P" word to the press when Minnesota Public Radio first reported the rumors last week, but bloggers in town made it sound like Prince was already on his way to the gig. Remember last year's rumors about Paul McCartney at Target Field and Madonna at TCF Bank Stadium? These things happen, especially in the blogosphere age.
One fact that is undisputable: Prince is overdue to play another show on home turf. Not counting a 2009 gig at Paisley Park, his last Twin Cities concert was the 7/7/07 trio of shows at Target Center, First Avenue and Marshall Field's. While his record sales have been paltry in recent years, the guy is still a hot concert ticket. He was reportedly paid $4.8 million to perform at Coachella in 2008, and since then he has sold out multiple nights at Madison Square Garden and the O2 Arena. In short, it was hard to believe St. Paul ever could have afforded him.
(Prince at Coachella photo by Chris Pizzello, Associated Press)
