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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jude Bellingham claims Club World Cup pitches in the US 'aren't great at all' and are 'tough on the knees' as Real Madrid star calls for protection for players one year out from World Cup
Away from the late afternoon heat and deep inside the bowels of the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, Jude Bellingham was eager to speak. This was game number 61 of his season and though he intends to make that 66 by the end of the Club World Cup, he also can't wait to have shoulder surgery after the tournament. Put simply, he is 'fed up' of playing with a brace and wants his 'old body back', saying he has now 'ran out of patience' and is looking ahead. 'Yeah, yeah, I'm definitely feeling it (the fatigue),' Bellingham told Mail Sport. 'With the new kits, new managers and new players coming, it probably kids you into thinking it's a new season. 'But you've already got 50 to 60 games in your legs and in this heat, you can definitely feel it. But the way I and the team are approaching it is that it's five more games of graft and everything we've got to try and bring home another title,' he added. For Bellingham, whose shoulder surgery is pencilled in for the week after the Club World Cup final, there is already an eye on the World Cup next summer. 'The pitches aren't great at all. It holds the ball up. The ball barely bounces. It's tough on the knees as well. Hopefully it's something that someone will look at, going into next year. 'It's important we protect the players as well as giving the fans a great spectacle and giving them great games like today,' he said. If Madrid are to go all the way, then Bellingham will inevitably be key as he showed against Pachuca on Saturday. With his side down to ten, it was the Englishman who grabbed the game by the scruff of his neck and gave them the lead against the run of play. But these are interesting times for the 21-year-old, with his compatriot Trent Alexander-Arnold now in Madrid and a new man in Xabi Alonso at the helm but the reality is that come next month, he will face a spell of three months on the sidelines when he goes for the procedure. Alonso is very much a man who relies on structures and system rather than Carlo Ancelotti and believes that to get the best out of Bellingham, he must 'start from the right position' because he has 'the soul of a midfielder' and has 'that great quality of being able to arrive'. But Bellingham has always stressed his love to play with freedom - something which he did primarily under Ancelotti. Asked about his conversations with Alonso, Bellingham insisted that the pair are on the same wavelength, for now. 'I think we're both open about it. I think I'm at my best when I'm constantly involved in the game, whether it's deeper or higher and when I'm getting on the ball and I'm making things happen - breaking lines, driving with the ball, getting into the box, scoring goals and making chances,' Bellingham said. 'I feel like when I'm free to be complete, that's when I'm at my best. I think Xabi agrees with me in that sense. He's put me in a position that I really enjoy playing, where I get a lot of touches and I'm involved a lot and I think the team benefits as a result so I'm really grateful for his trust in this game and hopefully going forward, it will be the same.' The early signs are that the relationship between Alonso, 43, and Bellingham, 20 will only grow in strength, with the inevitable midfield link between the two. Xabi Alonso has taken charge of Real Madrid after replacing Carlo Ancelotti for the competition 'He's a brilliant coach,' said Bellingham. 'His track record at Bayer Leverkusen was so impressive. And obviously as a player, he achieved everything. It's amazing for someone in my position to learn something from him. I'm sure he's got a lot of wisdom to give to me, Fede (Valverde), Aurel (Tchouameni), so we're going to be be like sponges taking everything in and showing it out there.' Another man who has taken everything in from Bellingham is Alexander-Arnold, 26, in his first couple of weeks at Madrid since moving from Liverpool. 'He's been really good. I think the lads have taken to him really well. Not only is he an amazing player, he's a great guy as well. He's already speaking a bit of Spanish,' Bellingham said. 'All the lads were impressed by that. It's just about enjoying himself really. The pressure is going to be insane but I told him he's here for a reason. He'll do great things for the club and I think he already believes that he's got that confidence.' In the meantime, his brother Jobe will keep him busy throughout the start of the season as the 19-year-old begins life at Borussia Dortmund, scoring his first goal on Saturday. 'We talk every day and I'm really proud of him,' said Bellingham. 'My parents are out here and they're flipping between both our games so it's been a really proud few days for our family. To watch my little brother play at the highest level is something I've dreamed of.'
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE FIFA moving fans to face television cameras to avoid viewers seeing empty stadiums at Club World Cup as revamped tournaments fails to sell tickets
FIFA are moving fans to face television cameras in an apparent bid to make stadiums at the Club World Cup appear full. Mail Sport understands some of those who have bought tickets for the expanded tournament, which kicks off tonight, have found their seats shifted amid growing concerns over poor sales numbers. Insiders at the governing body, who signed a $1bn deal with Dazn to broadcast the competition across the globe, have insisted that none of those impacted will find themselves in seats that are lower priced than the ones they originally purchased and that some will end up in better seats. They say the strategy is commonplace at major sporting events, is normal practice and is also aimed at improving the atmosphere. However, the revelation will no doubt add to further questions over the validity of the tournament, which many see as an attempted land grab on club football by FIFA bosses. One seat map suggests that the last-16 match on June 28 will currently see Charlotte's 74,867-capacity Bank of America Stadium split in two, with one side healthily populated and the other virtually empty. That game will feature the side which finishes second in Chelsea 's group take on the winner of a group which includes German giants Bayern Munich. Ticket prices have been slashed across the tournament, while Mail Sport reported that many of those who bought seats early have been given substantial part-refunds. For tonight's opener, which sees Lionel Messi's Inter Miami take on Egypt's Al-Ahly at Miami's 65,326 Hard Rock Stadium, students at a local college were being offered five tickets for as little as $20. When the draw was made, in December, the cheapest seats were advertised for $349. Much is at stake for FIFA, following a rebrand that has seen the competition extended from seven teams and one week to 32 teams and a month and optics will be key with the world watching. Visuals of huge swathes of empty seats will do little to suggest the expansion has whetted the appetite of the American public. Days after the TV deal was announced Surj, a firm owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, announced a $1bn investment in Dazn. Saudi had two months previously been confirmed as the host of the 2034 World Cup host. A FIFA spokesperson said: 'The FIFA Club World Cup is the start of a new era in global club football. By making the bold move of creating this new, truly global competition, FIFA is bringing together giants of the club game and spotlighting many new and successful clubs from all continents — introducing them to fans in the United States and to a broader global audience. 'We anticipate great attendances and electric atmospheres at its inaugural edition, with excitement growing with every round of matches and the tournament ultimately standing as the undisputed pinnacle of club world football. The appetite speaks for itself: fans from over 130 countries have already purchased tickets.'
Wakala News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Wakala News
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Stadiums, host cities, final venue
The FIFA Club World Cup starts on June 14, 2025, with the US-based tournament lasting for just under a month before the final in New Jersey on July 13. Here is a detailed breakdown of the 12 stadium venues and 11 cities hosting the event, which range from Philadelphia in the east of the country to Los Angeles on the west coast, to Atlanta in the deep south. Five of the Club World Cup venues – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, MetLife Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, and Lumen Field – will also host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. US Host Cities and venues: 📍Where the #FIFACWC action will unfold. 🏟️ — FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 2, 2025 Stadium and host cities guide: FIFA Club World Cup 2025 1. Mercedes-Benz Stadium ⚽ 16/06: Chelsea vs LAFC (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 19/06: Inter Miami vs Porto (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 22/06: Manchester City vs Al Ain (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 29/06: Round of 16 (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) ⚽ 01/07: Round of 16 (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 05/07: Quarterfinal (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) This southern city of more than 500,000 people is famous for another kind of football (American college football), home to the Atlanta MLS team, and the site of undoubtedly the most space-age stadium architecture of the 11 host cities, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Eight FIFA World Cup 2026 fixtures will take place in Atlanta, including a semifinal and two other knockout ties. For the Club World Cup, the venue will hold six matches in total, culminating in a quarterfinal on July 5. This huge venue boasts a retractable roof and a 360-degree halo video display. It also hosts the professional NFL team, Atlanta Falcons, ice hockey and music concerts, with heavy metal band Metallica due to host a show shortly before the Club World Cup. 2. Bank of America Stadium Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Capacity: 75,000 Built: 1996 Fixtures: ⚽ 22/06: Real Madrid vs Pachuca (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽24/06: Benfica vs Bayern Munich (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽28/06: Round of 16 (4:00pm EDT/20:00 GMT) ⚽30/06: Round of 16 (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) Nestled on the edge of downtown Charlotte's many skyscrapers, Bank of America Stadium is one of the largest football venues on the East Coast of the United States. The all-blue seated arena is home to the MLS franchise Charlotte FC since 2022, as well as the NFL team Carolina Panthers, who have played home games here since the mid-1990s. Charlotte is the major centre of the US motorsports industry, housing the country's only Formula One team, Haas F1, and multiple NASCAR teams. 3. TQL Stadium Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Capacity: 26,000 Built: 2021 Fixtures: ⚽ 15/06: Bayern Munich vs Auckland City (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) ⚽ 18/06: Pachuca vs Salzburg (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT) ⚽ 21/06: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Borussia Dortmund (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) ⚽ 25/06: Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) Located near the Ohio River and just two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the state border with Kentucky, this relatively new and football-specific stadium is the home of MLS side FC Cincinnati. The stadium, which has the third-smallest seating capacity of the 12 Club World Cup venues at 26,000, has an intimate feel to it with spectators sitting close to the action. TQL Stadium has already hosted several matches for international teams, including in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The US women's team has played at this venue twice, attracting more than 22,000 attendees on both occasions. Cincinnati, Ohio's most populous metro area, with more than 2.3 million residents, was nicknamed 'Porkopolis' during the 19th century due to the city's role in pork packaging, and was known to have thousands of pigs herded through its streets. 4. Rose Bowl Stadium Location: Los Angeles, California Capacity: 88,500 Built: 1922 Fixtures: ⚽ 15/06: PSG vs Atletico Madrid (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 17/06: Monterrey vs Inter Milan (6:00pm PDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 19/06: PSG vs Botafogo (6:00pm PDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 21/06: River Plate vs Monterrey (6:00pm – PDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 23/06: Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 25/06: Urawa Red Diamonds vs Monterrey (6:00pm PDT/01:00 GMT) This iconic venue, the biggest and easily oldest ground in action at the Club World Cup, celebrated its centenary in 2022. For spectators, the sweeping seating throughout the circular arena provides an uninterrupted view of the playing field. Recognised as a National Historic Landmark, the Rose Bowl is best known as a college American football venue, specifically as the host of the annual Rose Bowl Game after which it is named. Five Super Bowl games, the third most of any venue, have been played in the stadium. It is also a well-known football venue, having hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup final, the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup final, and the 1984 Olympic gold medal match. Los Angeles and its metropolitan area are home to 11 top-level professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball, the NBA's iconic LA Lakers and the winners of the most MLS Cups, the LA Galaxy. 5. Hard Rock Stadium Location: Capacity: 65,000 Built: 1987 Fixtures: ⚽ 14/06: Ah Ahly vs Inter Miami (8:00pm EDT/00:00 GMT) ⚽ 16/06: Boca Juniors vs Benfica (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT) ⚽ 18/06: Real Madrid vs Al Hilal (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 20/06: Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 23/06: Inter Miami vs Palmeiras (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 25/06: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Fluminense (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 29/06: Round of 16 (4:00pm EDT/20:00 GMT) ⚽ 01/07: Round of 16 (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) From hosting the NFL's famous Miami Dolphins, to being the epicentre of the annual Formula One Miami Grand Prix, to staging the Miami Open tennis tournament, the Hard Rock Stadium is the venue of choice for large-scale sporting events in this famous coastal city. Six Super Bowls, multiple major concerts and international football matches have taken place here, and it is also among the host venues selected for the FIFA World Cup next year. The Hard Rock Stadium will stage the opening fixture of the Club World Cup on June 14, where Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will face Egyptian club Al Ahly. 6. GEODIS Park Location: Nashville, Tennessee Capacity: 30,000 Built: 2022 Fixtures: ⚽ 20/06: LAFC vs Esperance (5:00pm CDT/22:00 GMT) ⚽ 24/06: Auckland City vs Boca Juniors (2:00pm CDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 26/06: Al Hilal vs Pachuca (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) GEODIS Park is the largest football-specific stadium in the US and Canada, and fans throughout the ground are unusually close to the action, with the furthest distance from seat to touchline standing at just 150 feet (46 metres). The venue is home to MLS side Nashville SC and has also hosted several matches of the US men's and women's football teams. Located in Nashville, which is often referred to as Music City, GEODIS Park also serves as a major concert venue and has hosted popular American rock bands such as Guns N' Roses and Green Day. 7. MetLife Stadium Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey Capacity: 82,500 Built: 2010 Fixtures: ⚽ 15/06: Palmeiras vs Porto (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT) ⚽ 17/06: Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) ⚽ 19/06: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) ⚽ 21/06: Fluminense vs Ulsan HD (6:00pm – EDT/22:00 GMT) ⚽ 23/06: Porto vs Al Ahly (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 05/07: Quarterfinal (4:00pm EDT/20:00 GMT) ⚽ 08/07: Semifinal 1 (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 09/07: Semifinal 2 (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 13/07: Final (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) The MetLife Stadium, a huge multipurpose stadium which is currently home to the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets, is the grand stage chosen to host the Club World Cup final, as well as both semifinals. The stadium hosted the 2016 Copa America Centenario final, which marked 100 years of South America's continental tournament. The venue will also host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, on top of two further knockout ties and five group-stage matches. New Jersey has long been an important cultural area for original rock and rap music creation, and the MetLife Stadium has hosted many A-list performers such as Beyonce, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. 8. Camping World Stadium ⚽ 24/06: LAFC vs Flamengo (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 26/06: Juventus vs Manchester City (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 30/06: Round of 16 (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 04/07: Quarterfinal (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) Located in Orlando, home to more than a dozen theme parks, including the popular Walt Disney World, the Camping World Stadium has been used by several teams, including the National Women's (NWSL) football side Orlando Pride. Opened as Orlando Stadium, it has also been known as the Tangerine Bowl and Florida Citrus Bowl. The stadium has undergone multiple expansions and renovations since it first opened almost 90 years ago, culminating in the 2014 redevelopment, which saw the creation of a 90 percent all-new stadium following a $200m investment in the arena. Apart from sports, the venue plays host to entertainment and musical events, with the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, and Elton John all taking to the stage, while WrestleMania XXIV wowed a venue-record crowd of 74,635 in 2008. 9. Inter&Co Stadium Location: Orlando, Florida Capacity: 25,000 Built: 2017 Fixtures: ⚽ 17/06: Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT) ⚽ 20/06: Benfica vs Auckland City (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) A newer and smaller venue than Orlando's other Club World Cup 2025 venue at Camping World Stadium, the Inter&Co Stadium is known for its purpose-built football design. It is the home ground of MLS outfit Orlando City and NWSL's Orlando Pride, while both the US men's and women's football teams have featured here, including during the FIFA men's World Cup qualifiers and the SheBelieves Cup women's tournament. The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Opening Ceremony also took place here. 10. Lincoln Financial Field ⚽ 16/06: Flamengo vs Esperance (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 18/06: Manchester City vs Wydad (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) ⚽ 20/06: Flamengo vs Chelsea (2:00pm EDT/18:00 GMT) ⚽ 22/06: Juventus vs Wydad (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) ⚽ 24/06: Esperance vs Chelsea (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 26/06: Salzburg vs Real Madrid (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 28/06: Round of 16 (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT) ⚽ 04/07: Quarterfinal (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) Home to this year's NFL Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field has also been selected to host five group-stage matches and a Round of 16 tie during the 48-team FIFA World Cup next year. Located on the banks of the Delaware River, the stadium's first ticketed event took place in 2003 when Manchester United defeated Barcelona 3-1 in a friendly in front of more than 68,000 fans. 11. Lumen Field ⚽ 15/06: Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders (7:00pm PDT/02:00 GMT) ⚽ 17/06: River Plate vs Urawa Red Diamonds (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 19/06: Seattle Sounders vs Atletico Madrid (3:00pm PDT/22:00 GMT) ⚽ 21/06: Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 23/06: Seattle Sounders vs PSG (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT) ⚽ 25/06: Inter Milan vs River Plate (6:00pm PDT/01:00 GMT) This spectacular stadium is home to Seattle Sounders – who qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as CONCACAF Champions League winners in 2022 – as well as the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and NWSL's Seattle Reign. Boasting a unique horseshoe shape with an open north end that gives a stunning view of the city skyline, the Lumen Field is also a venue for next year's FIFA World Cup and will host six matches. Located within a mile of downtown Seattle, the stadium is easily accessible by multiple freeways and public transport. 12. Audi Field Location: Washington, DC Capacity: 20,000 Built: 2018 Fixtures: ⚽ 18/06: Al Ain vs Juventus (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT) ⚽ 22/06: Salzburg vs Al Hilal (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT) ⚽ 26/06: Wydad vs Al Ain (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT) The US capital's stadium is the home of the Washington Spirit in the NWSL and DC United, who are tied with the LA Galaxy as MLS's most decorated team. The US men's and women's national teams have both played fixtures at this ground, as well as Arsenal's men's and women's teams, in friendly or competitive matches. Audi Field, which will host three matches during the Club World Cup, also serves as a regular venue for American football, rugby and lacrosse games. المصدر الكاتب:newsadmin الموقع : نشر الخبر اول مرة بتاريخ : 2025-06-07 12:11:00 ادارة الموقع لا تتبنى وجهة نظر الكاتب او الخبر المنشور بل يقع على عاتق الناشر الاصلي
Axios
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Live music: 10 concerts coming to Charlotte in May, including Kendrick Lamar and Metallica
Charlotte live music fans, here's a quick list of the 10 biggest concerts coming to the city in May. May 1: Lovin' Local Uptown "Lovin' Local Uptown" is a free show ahead of Lovin' Life Music Festival that'll showcase local musicians. Ax and the Hatchetmen will headline the show. The band's lead singer, Axel Ellis, is also in The Runarounds, who will perform at Lovin' Life on Saturday, May 3. The show will also feature Charlotte indie artists Junior Astronomers and Natalie Carr. Carr performed Lovin' Life last year. Location: Victoria Yards Time: 6pm Tickets: Free but limited; reservations are required. May 2-4: Lovin' Live Music Fest This year's main stage headliners include Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, Weezer, Pitbull, Dave Matthews Band and Teddy Swims. Each will close out their respective nights on the Miller Lite Stage. The secondary "Happy Thursday" stage will host headliners The Revivalists, Ludacris and Alex Warren. Others among the 50+ acts performing are Flipturn, Switchfoot, Lola Young, Gigi Perez, Petey Pablo, Mike, BigXthaPlug, The 502s, Sammy Rae & The Friends and Charlieonafriday. Location: First Ward Park Time: Times vary Tickets: Single-day tickets start at $129, two-day at $259 and all three days at $319. May 3: Kendrick Lamar & SZA Music fans in Charlotte will have to make the tough choice between LLMF and the Kendrick concert happening on Saturday. Location: Bank of America Stadium Time: 7pm Tickets: $261+ May 5: Rachel Platten Known for her empowering anthem "Fight Song," Rachel Platten fans can look forward to an inspiring live performance. Location: Neighborhood Theatre Time: 8pm Tickets: $37+ May 10: Evening Elephants This Charlotte-based indie rock band is best known for its dynamic sound and engaging live shows. Location: The Music Yard Time: 6pm Tickets: $21.54+ May 13: Shakira with Alejandro Sanz & Wyclef Jean Shakira brings her "Las Mujeres No Lloran" tour to Charlotte, joined by special guests Alejandro Sanz and Wyclef Jean, likely performing hits like "La Tortura" and "Hips Don't Lie." Location: Bank of America Stadium Time: 7:30pm Tickets: $45.15+ May 15: Teddy Swims Soulful singer Teddy Swims returns to Charlotte at a more intimate venue following his LLMF debut. Location: Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre Time: 8pm Tickets: $158.50+ May 28: Halsey Halsey embarks on her "For My Last Trick" tour, promoting her latest album "The Great Impersonator," with special guests Alvvays and Hope Tala. Location: PNC Music Pavilion Time: 7pm Tickets: $40.50+ May 30: Julian Vaughn Julian Vaughn, a contemporary jazz bassist and composer, brings his smooth grooves to Charlotte. Location: Middle C Jazz Time: 8:45pm Tickets: $50.65 May 31: Metallica Heavy metal legends Metallica close out a month of music madness in Charlotte.
Axios
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Uptown will see huge crowds this weekend from Lovin' Life and Kendrick Lamar concert
Thousands of people will descend upon Uptown for a weekend of massive events, including Lovin' Life Music Fest at First Ward Park, Kendrick Lamar at Bank of America Stadium and Charlotte Knights games. Why it matters: This could be a record-breaking weekend for foot traffic in Uptown, which is still rebounding from the pandemic. Fun fact: Uptown's biggest day in 2024 was Oct. 26 — the day of Concert for Carolina and the Charlotte Hornets home opener — when 266,000 people visited, according to Charlotte Center City Partners. By the numbers: Lovin' Life Music Fest, a three-day event starting Friday, May 2, is anticipating about 20,000 attendees per day based on the pace of ticket sales, said festival director Gregg McConnell. Flashback: Last year's inaugural, sold-out event drew more than 86,000 attendees. At this point last year, organizers were estimating around 25,000 people a day. That led to initial concerns about whether Charlotte was ready to handle such crowds, but the weekend went smoothly. What they're saying: City officials are again confident in Charlotte's ability to safely pull off multiple large-scale events simultaneously. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has restricted vacation days and will be all hands on deck. "Pretty much, if you have a uniform and/or if you're a detective, you're working this coming weekend," CMPD Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Bryley said at a safety briefing Monday. Bryley said CMPD is building on successful security measures from last year's event, such as improving its contact with First Ward neighbors. The city's command center will be fully operational and staffed, with a dispatcher assigned exclusively to the festival. Other info to know: Road closures start Tuesday: 7th and 8th streets, between Brevard and Caldwell, will close on Tuesday night. Other necessary road closures start on Thursday at 9am. Most roads will reopen Tuesday, May 6, before morning rush hour. A list of road closures will be available on the MyCMPD app and social media platforms. Charlotte Area Transit System ramps up service: CATS will run "express bus service" for passengers heading to University City Boulevard, JW Clay and I-485 park and rides after the concert each night. Signs will direct attendees to the buses outside the festival. Transit ambassadors will be available to answer questions along the Blue Line. CATS will operate extra light rail vehicles and adjust the frequency according to demand. CATS is selling a discounted, $12 transit pass for the three days through Thursday. The price will increase to $15 on Friday.
