OTHER CITIES: VANCOUVER MONTREAL

Ryerson Loses Out to Virgin Festival

Posted by Eugene
Filed in City
March 28, 2007

The Virgin Music Festival is taking over Ryerson University's party destination for this year's annual parade.

This September will mark the fiftieth anniversary of celebrations that usually go down Yonge Street and end on Olympic Island with a picnic and concert. The Student Union events coordinator told The Eyeopener that despite sending an email nine-months in advance, the Virgin Festival was able to secure a permit and would need the day of the Ryerson parade and party to set up.

The event coordinator felt that Ryerson was ignored because of the mounds of money Virgin would bring in and noted that Ryerson does not have the leverage to compete with a "huge multi-national" like Virgin Mobile, the festival's sponsor.

With no plans to change the date, traditionally held on the first Friday of September, alternate venues, including Hanlan's Point, are still being considered.

Photo from olympicisland.com

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If I was one to use profanity, I would be swearing a streak right now.

The next parade and picnic marks 50 years of a Ryerson and Toronto tradition and Ryerson is getting shoved aside just because it's not Virgin.

AND Tokyo Police Club, which was practically born out of Ryerson, sold out and is playing at the Virgin Music Festival. Way to give back to the community.

Can we have a dial-off and bombard Virgin with reproachful phone calls?

ARGH!

Posted by: Jenelle

at March 28, 2007 12:10 PM

I read No Logo and said, meh.

I watched WalMart close down the Mom and Pops and thought...what can you do?

I saw the patented mouse and figured, This is the way of the world now.

But this?! This is outrageous!

Posted by: Michael at March 28, 2007 12:50 PM

This sucks, truly.

Here's a question: Can you go to the Island on V-Day and not pay to enter the grounds for the concert?

Posted by: brokenengine at March 28, 2007 3:43 PM

I am disgusted by the large multinational lining the pockets of the city at the expense of students and a 50 year tradition.

Posted by: Sean at March 28, 2007 5:15 PM

I don't think 9 months was enough advance time to book...I can guarantee you that Virgin had the site booked for this year well before that. I don't necessarily think anything sinister is going on here...first come, first served. It's a big island (all other non-Olympic portions included)...I'm sure there's room for everyone.

And no, my opinion on this does not mean I endorse the multinational...it's just an objective view from a former event planner. If you know you're planning on having an event at the same place EVERY year, have the f'ing thing booked for a few years in advance.

Posted by: Carrie at March 29, 2007 12:45 PM

Sure this sucks but it sounds par for the course with Spin, the RSU events co-ordtinator. He sends an email and waits 8 months for a response then blames the multinationals? Who waits 8 months for a response without following up? That's just lazy. And now it's anyone but Spin's fault.

Posted by: C at March 29, 2007 2:12 PM