Download no longer at Donington?

eFestivals believes that the three day rock music event Download Festival held traditionally at Donington Park, Leicestershire will not take place there next year.

Donington Park Leisure Limited, operators of the motor racing and event venue, Donington Park, since Live Nation sold it to them in February last year, are due to host the 2010 British Grand Prix and will need to carry out major alterations and development to the site, including extending the track by a couple of miles in order to have it up to scratch to host the F1 event for the next ten years.

Donington Ventures Leisure Limited have been working closely with the local and national authorities considering the planning requirements that are necessary to make the race track a first class facility for the hosting of F1 in 2010. The details of this and the Donington Park master plan that outlines a 5 year investment programme of some £100m, have not been released yet.

eFestivals understands that in order to be able to complete the revitalisation and development on site work will be taking place from early next year, making the site unavailable to host the rock music festival.

There has been no confirmation from Download or Live Nation about the move, however possible sites could include hosting it at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Northamptonshire or possibly at one of the sites which Live Nation already hosts a festival at such as Hyde Park, or Long Marston Airfield, in Warwickshire, the home of Global Gathering (which Live Nation own a stake in).

Download's press company have confirmed to eFestivals that there will definitely be a festival in 2009, and they believe it will still be held on the same site at Donington Park.

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