Pictured left to right:
Brad Jones (JEG), Rhegan Whelpley (USC), Kathleena Henricus (USC), Scott McFadzean (YXU)
London, ON – Jones Entertainment Group (JEG) is celebrating its 95th year by entering a new long-term partnership and venture with the London International Airport (YXU) and Western University Students’ Council (USC). The idea behind this new venture is to create the largest musical event that London and area has ever experienced.
“Scott McFadzean, CEO of YXU, reached out to us eighteen months ago and invited us to the airport for a site visit. As soon as we stood in the middle of the northwest runway, I knew we had something special.” said Brad Jones, President of JEG/Rock the Park. “We are so proud of the brand we have created with Rock the Park over the last 21 years. We didn’t want to compete with ourselves, so the natural fit is to cater to the 40,000 plus students that come back to Western and Fanshawe each September. Most of these students are not in London in July and do not attend Rock the Park, so early September was a perfect time for our new addition. I then met with Jeff Armour, COO of USC, and we both knew immediately we were going to build something exceptional together, not just for his students, but for music fans far and wide.”
“The London International Airport is thrilled to be the host location for the inaugural Rock the Runway concert series and cannot wait to welcome guests from across Ontario and beyond to our amazing airport and Canada’s first UNESCO City of Music.” said Scott McFadzean, President and CEO of the London International Airport. “The airport takes great pride in serving and supporting our community and with this great new concert partnership with JEG, we look forward to continuing to host world-class events for years to come.”
“This partnership marks a new chapter for the USC. As we celebrate 60 years of empowering students, it’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come—and how much bigger our vision has grown,” said Jeff Armour, Chief Operating Officer, USC. “Rock the Runway, in collaboration with JEG and YXU, unlocks new opportunities for our student leaders to create unforgettable experiences for Western students.”
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with JEG and YXU to bring back our iconic PurpleFest concert at Rock the Runway this year. But this partnership goes beyond just a concert – it’s about making sure students feel like they’re a part of the larger London community,” said Kathleena Henricus, incoming USC President. “By building stronger ties between campus and the city, we’re helping students see London not just as a place where they study—but as a place they can truly call home.”
Each year, during the programming of Rock the Park, JEG has an option on at least one major artist that financially cannot fit into Harris Park due to the limited capacity. Now with Rock the Runway and its capacity of 25,000, it will allow these artists the opportunity to play within the City of London. Rock the Park is in its 21st edition July 8-12th with headliners Hozier, Red Clay Strays, Kygo, Bad Omens and Lee Brice.
The launch of Rock the Runway is now live at www.rocktherunwaylondon.ca as well as on all social channels @rocktherunwayldn. More details surrounding the announcement of artists will be coming soon, but for now, be sure to follow our pages for exciting launches, contests and more.
Contact details:
Myriah Kay
Marketing Director
JEG, Rock the Park, Rock the Runway