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Kings of Leon tickets sold despite no venue licence

Todd Owyoung/NBC Kings of Leon on stage at an event. There is a red glow on the stage as a result of the lighting used.Todd Owyoung/NBC
The American rock band are set to headline Blackweir Live

Tickets for a Kings of Leon gig in Cardiff have gone on pre-sale, despite the venues licence application not yet being approved.

Blackweir Fields, an extension of Bute Park, is set to be used for music events next summer.

Bute Park currently has a capacity of 25,000 people however the intention is to increase this to 35,000.

A new licence from the local authority would be needed which Cardiff Council have said will ensure the venue is "in line with all legal requirements".

Cuffe and Taylor and Cardiff-based DEPOT Live have presented a number of live music events at Cardiff Castle over the past two years.

The partnership's intention is to have Blackweir Live debut in 2025 with four headline gigs.

The Blackweir Live event which will feature a Kings of Leon gig on 29 June.

Tickets for the gig have gone on pre-sale, but a licensing application to allow tens of thousands more to watch it at a popular park still has not been approved.

The increased capacity proposed for the Blackweir Live events means a new licence application is required.

The majority of Bute Park will still be accessible, but public access to Blackweir Fields will be restricted during the event and for a limited period either side of it.

Google Aerial image of Blackwater Fields from Google. The River Taff is seen on the left with the surrounding area showing the different parts of Bute Park.Google
Blackweir Fields has hosted music events such as the X Music Festival and KissStory

Cardiff council said the event would help to "cement Cardiff's status" as a must play destination for major artists.

The council added that it was "common practice" for ticket sales to begin before licencing arrangements had been finalised.

Special care was being taken to protect the cricket squares on Blackweir Fields from damage, according to Cardiff council.

It added that the technology used at Blackweir would be the same as that used when high profile cricket grounds such as Old Trafford hosted events.