Christopher BarrettOlympic hero Sir Mo Farah, CBE, has led the first running event to be staged by AEG Presents as part of its BST Hyde Park show series.
The 3km running session led by Farah was the latest major step by the promoter to enhance its free-to-attend midweek entertainment programme called Open House. Among the entertainment on offer is All Things Orchestral, hosted by Myleene Klass and featuring Alfie Boe, and PDC Presents Hyde Park Darts.
At a time when there has been highly publicised friction between residents and event operators at other London parks, AEG’s burgeoning midweek programme at BST Hyde Park allows free access to the site with outdoor cinema, street food markets, children’s theatre, fitness classes, summer sports screenings and evening events.
Speaking at the running event, Farah said, “This city has so many memories for me as a young boy taking part in a mini marathon, running and looking at your role model and going, one day I’d like to compete in a marathon and doing it. To have this running event in Hyde Park is amazing, so when the team asked me if I’m up for it, I was more than up for it.”
Promoted by AEG, produced by LS Events, and with Star Live responsible for many of the key structures including the main, Great Oak, stage, BST Hyde Park is set to continue for another two weeks, with concerts by acts including Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons, Duran Duran, Pitbull and Lewis Capaldi.
Westminster City Council has approved The Royal Parks Limited’s application to raise the capacity for BST Hyde Park from the previous limit of 64,999 for seven days and 49,999 for two, which means an overall event series audience capacity limit of 550,000.
Under the new licence, AEG Presents will have the option to host up to 630,000 attendees across nine BST Hyde Park shows – an increase in attendance of 5,000 for seven concerts and 20,000 for two concerts.
BST Hyde Park founder and AEG Presents CEO UK & European Festivals Jim King will be the next promoter to feature in the AAA Backstage podcast series.