Rugby team steps up to rescue cancelled Pride event – by offering their stadium as new venue
The Bradford Bulls have offered up their stadium to save a homeless Pride festival – after the planned event was plunged into chaos.
Bradford Pride was set to take place next month in the City Park, but the organising committee says it was was forced to cancel the event due to a funding shortfall and crippling restrictions from the local council.
Bradford Pride Committee Chair Ann Morgan resigned as the decision to cancel the event was made, lamenting: “The financial constraints, coupled with the licensing restrictions, have made the City Park event impossible this year.”
However, the planning will not go to waste – with an unaffiliated alternative festival now planned for the same day, after the local Bradford Bulls rugby club offered up their Odsal Stadium.
The rugby club offered their stadium up for the event, while venue managers Provident Stadiums agreed to provide the bars, staging, and security free of charge.
Bulls’ CEO Robbie Hunter-Paul said: “Bradford Pride is a wonderful event and it is exciting to see it taking place at the Provident Stadium.
“It is important we help out all areas of the community as we continue to enhance our community footprint within Bradford.
“It will be a great day filled with entertainment and we hope everybody enjoys themselve
Local businesses Flares Bradford, The Sun Hotel, Baxter Training, and nightclubs Candy and The Lemon Shed have all worked with the local council to ensure the new event goes ahead.
Jason Courcoux, who is heading up the steering committee, said: “Bradford Pride has been a long running event in the city and we were so disappointed when we heard that it had been cancelled.
“Not only would this be a massive blow for the local LGBT community, but also to local businesses as last year’s event attracted over 10,000 visitors to the city.
“Thanks to the dedication of local businesses and the licensing authorities, we’re hoping to not only salvage the event but to make it better than ever before. There’s still a long way to go but we’ve made real progress over the last week and I personally want to thank everyone involved for all their support and hard work.”
Heather Peace, Stooshe, and X Factor singers Karen Harding and Seann Miley Moore are all set to play the alternative event.
