Hey! You! Get Offa my Field!

Today's Daily Progress reports that the Rolling Stones will perform a concert at the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium in October as part of their 2005 tour.

Needless to say, if these rumors are true, it would be one of the biggest events ever to hit the grounds of the University. Not only have special events at Scott Stadium been rare (the last one was the famous Dave Matthews Band and Neil Young show in April 2001), but the Stones occupy a status higher than almost any rock band still in existence. Serious debates are carried on as to whether they were a better band than The Beatles, and just about anyone would recognize more than a few Stones songs if they heard them. Of the acts still making music today, the only one I can think of that might equal the Rolling Stones in stature is U2, and the Stones predate them by about 20 years.

Despite all this, it seems ludricrous that UVA would consider such an event to take place. The word on the street is that the planned date for the concert would be in early October, during one of two away game weeks for the Cavalier football team. Historically, the University has been resistant to allow any non-football activity to take place within the stadium, even during the off-season. The potential effects of an in-season concert stand to be quite disruptive. Following the DMB show in '01, the stadium's turf had to be resodded because the existing one suffered irreparable damage due to the concert's on-field seating. While Dave was gracious enough to fund the repairs, and though the Stones may be expected to do the same, a football field cannot be replaced overnight. New grass needs time to take root, and a quick patch job could create dangerous field conditions for the Hoos' Oct. 15 showdown with Florida State (if you're looking for evidence, just ask anyone who was at JMU's national championship game this past fall, where UT-Chatanooga's recently replaced field came up in clumps any time a player shuffled his feet).

Even if the Rolling Stones rumor doesn't pan out, it still seems that UVA has committed to hosting a large musical event for the same timeframe. Why the administration would permit such a questionable act following countless springs and summers worth of empty stadiums is beyond me.