http://www.kansascity.com...367.htm?1c

Posted on Tue, May. 04, 2004



KEVIN KANE/The Associated Press
Prince will be at Kemper Arena tonight.




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Today in Kansas City


Princely block party

BRIAN MCTAVISH


Are you ready to block?

Before fans take their seats at tonight's Prince concert at Kemper Arena, they can go to the facility's east parking lot for an official pre-show “block party.”

The party will feature Prince-inspired purple drinks and '80s music, as well as some very un-Prince-like things, including mechanical bull riding. But Global Spectrum, the company hired to stage the carnival-like event, apparently knows its market.

“The bull is a huge success with all age groups,” said Eric S. Nemeth, marketing manager for Global Spectrum. “It's a crowd-pleaser.”

So is selling concert merchandise at the block party, Nemeth said.

“Usually you have to wait for the concert to buy a T-shirt,” he said. “Now you can buy it in the parking lot and take it straight to your car, so it won't get lost or damaged once you're inside the arena.”

The block party concept was introduced before the Kelly Clarkson/Clay Aiken concert April 15 at Kemper. It will continue before the Metallica concert there on May 11.

Tonight's Prince block party starts at 4 p.m. Admission is free and open to everyone, even those who haven't paid up to $76 to see the Purple One at 7:30 p.m. at Kemper.

A reason to go to the show: It's reportedly the last tour on which Prince will perform songs from his signature 1984 album, “Purple Rain.” Happy 20th anniversary, Prince. And that's no bull.

For tickets, call (816) 931-3330.

For more entertainment events, go to kansascity.com.

To reach Brian McTavish, arts & entertainment writer, call (816) 234-4766 or send e-mail to bmctavish@kcstar.com.

Something like this would be cool when he plays St. Paul. 'Cept for the mechanical bull.