GLASGOW will lose out on an economic boost of up to £20m brought in by TRNSMT, after it was announced the festival was cancelled.

The Glasgow Green festival could bring in as much as £20m, according to solicitor Archie MacIver.

We reported in 2018 that Mr MacIver, on behalf of TRNSMT owners DF Concerts, told the city’s licensing committee the festival could provide a boost to Glasgow’s economy in the tens of millions that year.

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But the popular music festival has come under fire for the timing and wording of its announcement it would not go ahead this summer.

Festival organisers initially suggested it was because of Nicola Sturgeon, not the coronavirus outbreak that the festival would not go ahead as planned in July.

Asked about the festival on Thursday, April 24, the First Minister said she “cannot conceive” it would go ahead. TRNSMT was still selling tickets at this time.

On Friday morning, the festival organisers issued a statement reading: “We are absolutely gutted to announce that due to the comments made by the First Minister of Scotland during the daily briefing on April 23, TRNSMT will be unable to go ahead as planned in July 2020.

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“We did not want to take this step but it is unavoidable. The health and safety of our fans, artists, staff and community will always be our top priority.”

Alison Thewliss, the SNP MP for Glasgow Central, said: “While there will inevitably be an impact on the Glasgow economy due to the cancellation of hundreds of concerts and events in the coming months, the most important thing has always been public health. The writing has been on the wall for TRNSMT since the cancellation and postponement of events like UEFA 2020, the World Pipe Band Championships, Glastonbury, Wimbledon and the Olympics . The public health message to stay home, save lives and protect the NHS has been crystal clear for weeks now.

“It was irresponsible and over-optimistic for DF Concerts to issue tickets earlier this month, and I hope all of those who want refunds will be able to get them swiftly. It is deeply disappointing that the TRNSMT organisers have chosen to try and politicise this issue, when it’s clear that Coronavirus is a pandemic that knows no politics and requires a coordinated response. I hope DF Concerts will think carefully about their responsibility to music fans and to the wider population.

“I’m sure constituents who live near Glasgow Green will enjoy the opportunity to have a much more peaceful summer this year.”

Responding to DF Concert’s initial statement, human rights lawyer and Rector of Glasgow University Aamer Anwar said in a tweet: “This is pathetic from TRNSMT. Why not say: ‘Due to Covid-19, a global pandemic and our moral responsibility to protect life we are not able to go ahead with TRNSMT’, rather than blaming [the] First Minister.”

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DF Concerts put out a second statement yesterday afternoon which said: “To clarify, the reason TRNSMT is unable to go ahead as planned is, of course, due to the Covid-19 global pandemic. Today’s cancellation has been made, following yesterday’s updated and clear advice, given by the FM of Scotland.”

DF Concerts did not respond to our requests for comment.

The festival has announced that the festival will go ahead in July next year and that tickets for this year's event can be rolled over for 2021.