Blake Shelton to headline Dick's Sporting Goods Open concert in Endicott

In what they described as Broome County's "biggest country concert ever," organizers of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open announced Monday that Blake Shelton will be the concert headliner on Friday, Aug. 17 at En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott.

"We looked for somebody who is a brand, Blake is a brand in himself, but is personal," said Dick's Sporting Goods Open Tournament Director John Karedes during Monday's newss conference at tournament headquarters in Vestal. "We wanted him to connect with our fans."

The concert will follow the first round of the annual PGA Tour Champions Tour event. Tickets will go on sale March 28 at 10 a.m. on ticketmaster.com.

The country star is known for the hits "Sangria," "A Guy with a Girl," "God Gave Me You" and "Honey Bee."

Shelton was named 2017's Top Country Artist at the Billboard Music Awards and Billboard's most played country artist of 2017. Shelton is also the People's Choice Award winner for favorite Male Country Artist and a five-time CMA Male Vocalist of the Year winner.

In 2017, he was named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.

Shelton is also a coach on the NBC reality singing competition "The Voice," currently in its 14th season. He coaches the show's contestants along with Adam Levine, whose band Maroon 5 rocked the Dick's Open in 2011.

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As of Monday, Shelton was not touring with any other acts.

After Bon Jovi arrived late last year, causing a two-hour delay and numerous complaints from audience members, changes have been made to the headliner's contract, said Karedes. He said the contract requires the act to arrive at the venue around 2 p.m.

Some events will also be held before the concert begins at dusk.

"We're looking to get back to normal," Karedes said. "We've done 30 years of concerts and 29 of them went without a hitch."

Changes will also be made to fix last year's sound issues and ensure that there will be full coverage around the venue, which is centered around the golf course's 18th green and fairway

Karedes said he spoke to Shelton's sound engineer Saturday, who ensured Shelton would be heard throughout the venue.

"He knows that we kind of want to blow the doors off Endicott, sound-wise," Karedes said.

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Organizers are expecting the concert to sell out with about 20,000 people.

The Dick's Open stint is Shelton's only scheduled show in upstate New York and northeast Pennsylvania during his Country Music Freaks Tour.

Karedes said organizers will be working with the county, as well as Endicott Police, to ensure traffic moves smoothly and the venue is safe.

Country acts have been a mainstay at the Dick's Open, with Bon Jovi one exception last year.

"We went back to something that we knew was a feel-good here," Karedes said.

Past acts have included Florida Georgia Line in 2016, Lady Antebellum and Sam Hunt in 2015, the Zac Brown Band in 2014, and Tim McGraw in 2013.

"We'll make sure that he has a spiedie and he's ready to go out there and perform," Karedes said.

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