To think the Ariana concert is being held *way* too soon?

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I think it's a fabulous idea to have this memorial concert. But...

Some of the dead have not even been buried yet. Those still in hospital are unable to attend. Families directly affected by the bomb will have much more to attend to right now than going to the concert.

I think it would have been a lovely idea to do in say the autumn - where people will have started to piece their lives back together a tiny bit.

And are you one of the bereaved neveradullmoment99?

Sincere apologies if you are, but if you're not, then as I said earlier anyone else's opinions mean diddly squat.

The families were consulted...not just the bereaved but those with loved ones still in hospital/needing ongoing treatment.

They went with the majority and that's good enough for me.

..and lastly, if the families want it, then that's good. I didn't know they had been consulted until someone said on here.

X post, sorry.

She is a young woman who had something very traumatic happen at her concert, to her young fans.

She is upset and wants to heal/help/get over it ASAP!!

Totally understandable!! The others joining in and helping, also good!!

No, thankfully I am not.
Yes, everyone's opinion is irrelevant.
I am only answering the OP.

actually most celebs dont publicly donate to a previous pp

yes some do annual gala events but u dont know half the things they donate to

I do think it is good to have the concert soon, but I do wonder how well it has been planned out with regards to the venue/timing.

There are so many concerts and events on that the concert was always going to clash with something, but I do worry that holding the concert on this date at this specific venue hasn't been well considered. It has been planned for 7pm on Sunday night at Old Trafford Cricket ground ... on the same day that Old Trafford football ground, less than half a mile away, is sold out (75, 000 seats) for a Testimonial game that has been planned for nearly a year, with a lot of people having paid for tickets/travel/accommodation & a lot of footballers have committed their time to this game for that day.

The game has been pulled forward to kick off at 2:30 so that it doesn't directly clash with the concert, but even with the game finishing at around 4:30, with it being a testimonial game there'll be presentations and speeches etc and then the Megastore will be open because there'll be loads of people wanting to buy commemorative souvenirs after the game, people going to HotelFootball and the surrounding bars for a couple of drinks after the game, not to mention that it can take a little while for all 75,000 fans to leave the area even on a normal matchday; so it's entirely possible that the football ground will still not be cleared before the concert fans start arriving. Then take into account the fact most people use the MetroLink tram service, the main stop for which is the Old Trafford stop, right by the cricket ground, and in the past I have waited over an hour in the queues to get a tram after a United game.

For me that's a logistial nighmare, even without the heightened security issues and the significance of the concert, two huge events with over 125,000 people attending two venues only 800m apart is going to put a huge strain on the services. Even with the extra policing and metro staff they usually employ to help with the large crowds are going to be stretched.

They could have chosen a different venue - perhaps the Etihad stadium - or a different day so that there wasn't going to be quite such a huge strain on resources.

Again going back to what I said earlier about my son's friend getting cancer (thankfully all clear now)...

I was shocked at just how expensive it was for his parents, who were actually out of work due to both having chronically painful disabilities.

Things I hadn't considered...

Travel fares to and from hospital appointments

Him having to keep up with school work, meant him needing a laptop

Overnight stays at hotels while he had long hospital treatments

Childcare for his younger siblings - sometimes overnight too

Meals, because travelling on a hot tube for a couple of hours meant keeping food edible was difficult.

Kennel for the dog when they had to be away overnight.

Wifi connection because his treatments were so long and boring, and it was important to a 17yr old to keep up with his friendship groups, as he couldn't socialise in person.

Tons of other things too long to list, but I honestly had never thought of. They were so grateful that some cancer charities stepped in to help out, but it was still really tough for them.

I'd say the sooner these people can get financial help the better, especially as some may not be able to leave hospital until their homes have been adapted...and that's going to cost serious money.
Even things like magazines and crossword books started to add up, for a family who were living pretty much hand to mouth to begin with.

I agree the concert is a good idea to raise money for victims and their families however I just hope that the police will have the support they need to make things safe. With ongoing investigations plus a football game and now this event things will be pretty stretched.

I understand why people would think it's soon but YABU. They wanted the best line up they could get hold of - most of the acts will be committed to either their own tours or festivals all over the place over the next few months so they would possibly be restricted with the dates they could do. Plus the ground itself will be committed to hosting county and international matches over the summer so they'll be more restricted to what they can offer.

No?
The charity raised is also to help the survivors recovery ... not much help
A year down the line when they're already recovered

I can't begin to know how the families that have been affected feel , especially those that have lost loved ones , but if it were me , I don't think I'd give a monkies about anything at the moment . They could hold the concert or not, I really don't think I'd care.

Condensed - I was just about to say exactly the same.

If my child had died just over a week ago I wouldn't care what was going on.

Been thinking about Saffies mum today, coming round to the most unthinkable news. Just horrendous.

Poor woman , poor kids , poor everyone really .

I think that the concert is being held with the best intentions, I hardly think anyone is thinking 'how can we cause more upset ?'

Interesting points. I did wonder about the PR aspect of it too and I think it's naive not to acknowledge that's the world we live in these days.

Love the idea of recording a song - maybe they will?

I am glad some monies are due to be released soon.

I do think had I been directly affected by the attack that it would be too soon and too raw for me to go. I didn't realise the families had been consulted.

There will be government compensation but because of the administrative process it will take many months. Some victims with life changing injuries will likely have payment in stages as their health situation becomes clearer further down the line. Compensation for the bereaved is not a lot of money. So financially the concert will give those involved more money (probably) more quickly and will really benefit recovery.
The administration of the fundraising concerns me as there needs to be a fair and clear process.
Honestly I would rather there not be a concert to raise money but if it raises a lot and helps then the end result is the important thing.

2rebecca - not just a fundraiser for the dead; a fundraiser also for the living, those injured or traumatised.

And those killed were not all children either - there were as many adults too, most with children to support. Mums and dads were among the victims. And it is myth that children's funerals are always done for free. Many are not, and headstones cost money too. And then the support for the parents and siblings of those lost. This costs money and isn't cheap.

And so many will need contributed treatment - for physical and emotional injuries, for a long time to come.

.i cant imagine anyone that was at it wanting to go back while its SO fresh

And yet many are returning to the concert. The vast majority of those who were at this concert are choosing to go to the benefit concert.

" several celebrities who're participating may not be donating and I think it's logical to assume that some won't be. Most celebs publicly donate."

This really isn't true, just by the nature of it you tend to only hear about those who donate publically. I work for a well known charity, and in my experience for every celeb who makes a song and dance about donating (and boy do they!) we have several others who donate or support our projects without any publicity.

On the concert question I think as a fundraiser and to make a statement, rather than a memorial, it is the right time. Families and victims have been consulted and I think the decision to proceed has been made for the right reasons.

They can't use the Etihad. There are concerts there today and tomorrow. The rigging and stage takes a long time to put up and down - RW's stage wouldn't be suitable for this concert and besides he needs it down and taken and assembled for his next concert. That means the Eithad is out of action on Sunday, these things take days.

It's also the summer so the cricket ground will be needed most weekends from now on. The other local venues, with big enough capacities, will have similar timing issues.

Many of the other artists, many who are flying in, are mid tour, including Ariana Grande herself. To get so many available in one night as it is is an achievement. TT are already performing twice that night - both there and then an hour or so later at their own concert in Birmingham.

Yes there is a testimonial the same day close by. But the extra security will be there for both. There will be increased numbers of people at the time when the testimonial ends and the concert gates open. But this will have been considered and security and policing will have decided what they think will work. As with any big event - there will road blocks etc and the human traffic will be guided as to where and when they can go. The testimonial crowd, whilst large,
Is no where near as large as the concert crowd.

More celebrities donate privately and anonymously than do publicly too. But some people will never believe that. They only see the bad in people who are famous. Maybe the gutter press means people only see the bad in there and makes them cynical. But reality is many do make donations but don't make a song and dance about it.

Well it's a fund raising concert with multiple artists, Ariana is only one of them.
The most effective way to raise money is when the events are still at the forefront of peoples mind.
Also the families need the money now.
So I think it is the right time .

It's hard not to be cynical about some celebrities when I see participating in Children in Need at the same time they have a new album or film to promote. And when they participate in dodgy tax dodging schemes, like one of the acts who're at the concert this weekend.

I think she has to do it before she resumes her tour and the tour was only stopped for two weeks.

I don't like it anyway as most of the artists performing are in the middle of promotion and will be very happy for all this promo.

Most of the tours they are in the middle of are sold out venues. It won't make much difference on that score.

And many artists often have songs, albums and tours being promoted. It'd be near impossible to find a time when one had!