The Madison Square Garden Co. has bought a controlling share of Boston Calling, the concert series at the center of a federal corruption probe aimed at Boston City Hall.
The New York-based entertainment company, which owns Madison Square Garden arena, the New York Knicks and Rangers, and Radio City Music Hall, announced Wednesday it had purchased a controlling interest in Boston Calling Events, which also throws events such as the upcoming Copenhagen Beer Celebration. Boston Calling Events CEO Brian Appel will stay on to run the company.
The price of the deal was not disclosed.
“We have been exploring music festivals as a way to further expand and strengthen our position in the ‘live experience’ space and are very pleased to welcome Boston Calling Events to the MSG family,” said Madison Square Garden Co. CEO David O’Connor in a statement.
Boston Calling held its final festival on City Hall Plaza in May, on Memorial Day weekend. Next year it will move to Harvard University’s Athletic Complex in Allston.
Boston Calling, which was allegedly the victim of “union-related extortion” by a member of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s administration, announced in May it is moving its concerts from City Hall Plaza to Allston in 2017. The concert also moved to a yearly schedule, rather than twice a year.
In May, Kenneth Brissette, the city of Boston’s director of tourism, sports and entertainment, was arrested for allegedly making the promoters hire union workers before issuing the permits necessary to hold the concert. A second city hall official, Timothy Sullivan, chief of staff for intergovernmental affairs, was indicted in June, also for extortion.
