University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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Jacksons Cont. ...Jack on Win Victor Over Securit requiring purchase of four tickets with a S120 mail order. That system ultimately destroyed negotiations for the Lexington shows, and the first scheduled dates were changed to July 6-8 in Kansas City, Mo. On June 21, town fathers in Foxboro, Mass., voted down a request to put on the shows in Sullivan Stadium there Aug. 10-ll - thereby creating two open dates. lronically, Sullivan owns the stadium and had secured rights for promotion of the tour through his guarantee of sponsoring concerts there. Contract negotiations for the Knoxville shows were made public June 28. Local promoters Roberts, Al Davis and Ted Ray Nlillerg national promotersg and UT of- ficials including President Ed Boling, Ex- 5 A Q10 . l -vu 13-7 4 v. .ai-' J -I 11 ,Y , 5:6 g ,, Q . Q? 5a ecutive Vice President Joe Johnson and Athletic Director Bob Woodruff were involved. Meanwhile, Michael Jackson announc- ed July 6 in Kansas City that the ticket distribution system would be changed to first-come, first-served. In negotiations, local promoters wanted Knox County Law Director Dale Workman to issue an opinion designating Neyland Stadium a theater. Such an ac- tion would have exempted promoters from five percent of the 17 percent ag- gregate amusement tax. Workman issued an opinion July 12 saying the stadium was a stadium. At the same time, national promoters had to be assured the stadiumis field would hold up under the strain of a 700,000-pound stage after they heard reports there were limestone caverns under the stadium. UT officials received a rough draft of the contract around July 16. UT officials asked for and subsequently got an agree- ment that gave Woodruff a veto over all equipment on the field, provided for reserved seating on top of layers of plywood on the field and paid UT 535,000 rent for each of the shows in the stadium. UT General Counsel Beauchamp Brogan reached a verbal agreement with national promoters July 24. He signed the final document July 26. Tickets went on sale July 27 for two Knoxville shows at Ticketron outlets throughout the country. The shows quick- tcont.l ,Mis . .. -- 7-..-K,---1.5 - - - .- , M QA, A Q.. .u.,K,iC,., - , 4. nf ! ,rf: fa MIA! JD .e,-,-.asf-. kdmmy .. - . .br X- -, -. 2. 'L ' 'fniigft 1 -2 i , ' i ' -.jk ' G U-102 ..'--j'Tf. Tom McNutt Tom McNutt 3

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3 Tom NlcNutt l. The Jacksons sing their nay into the hearts ot 48,783 fans on the Hrs! night of the concert. Friday August 10, 1984. 2. The crew prepares the stage for the big weekend ahead. 3. Nlichael thrills the au- dience. 4. The Jacksons put the crowd in a State ot Shock . Student Life - I5

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Tom NlcNutt 5 Tom McNutt 1. Ted Ray Miller, Bo Roberts and a Jackson representative announce the concert date. 2. Robert Hutchinson, vice president of public service, signs the contract with UT General Counsel Beauchamp Brogan. 3. Songs of Victory till the stadium. -1. The Jacksons beat it to the beat. 5. Cameras were not allowed at the concert.