Moncton concert tickets selling as Maritimes welcomes summer of rock

As cities across the Maritimes prepare for a busy summer of big-name outdoor concerts, Moncton's concert czar says ticket sales are on target for the shows at Magnetic Hill.

Acts such as AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney, Black Crowes andTim McGraw are destined for Fredericton, Moncton, Halifax and Cavendish. But it remains to be seen if the region can handle the large number of shows.

With Bon Jovi set to take the stage on June 27 in Moncton, Ian Fowler, the city's general manager of tourism, said ticket sales are going well.

"[For the] Bon Jovi [concert], we were looking at that as being a smaller show, probably in the vicinity of 25,000, and we're certainly on target to be there," Fowler said.

Fowler says ticket sales are alsostrong for legendary Australian rockers AC/DC, which was one of the first major concert announcements in the region. AC/DC will headlinean Aug. 6 concert in Moncton.

As fans buy tickets in Moncton, Halifaxconcertgoers lined up on Fridayto get tickets to McCartney's July 11 show.

Fowlersaid there's a lot of competition for concert dollars in the Maritimes this summer.

He hopesall the concerts in the region are successful because that would serve as a springboard to future concerts.

"If any of the shows suffer and those can be ... the two in Halifax, to our two, to some of the smaller ones, it just hurts the whole image of entertainment in Atlantic Canada," he said.

"There's a great buzz with entertainment going right now, so the hope is that all shows and festivals are successful."

Fowler said Moncton may be able to attract even more acts next year as a new venueiswelcomed to the city.

"Starting next summer, we'll have our stadium at the university which can accommodate a number of mid-sized shows," he said.

"So how we will play in that marketplace for shows that are too big for the Coliseum, too small for Magnetic Hill, we're going to be putting another hook in the water next summer."