New York's Times Square concert

from the BBC online website - Sep 2002

"Thousands watched as Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys and Enrique Iglesias lit up New York's Times Square. The concert, a prelude to the NFL American football season, was also intended to commemorate the victims of 11 September.

The area around Times Square and 42nd Street became a car-free zone, with a crowd of at least 100,000 people gathering, and NFL estimates as high as 500,000.

An area stretching 20 blocks was closed to motor vehicles, and heavy security was in force with 5,700 police officers deployed and backpacks and bags restricted.

Enrique Iglesias was a crowd-pleaser. But city leaders believe the free show will have given a huge boost to the tourism trade, still recovering after the 11 September attacks.

With its giant advertising displays and Broadway shows, the area around Times Square is famous for its bright lights. But for the concert it became even more glitzy, with dozens of spotlights trained on a huge open-air stage.

Top of the bill was the band Bon Jovi, with a supporting cast that included Alicia Keys, Eve and Enrique Iglesias. There was a patriotic finish to the show with Bon Jovi performing America the Beautiful while police officers unfurled a giant US flag across the watching crowd.

City's resilience

"We are trying to find some optimism," said lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, before the concert. "We want to celebrate the resilience of New York and New Yorkers, and show the world we are grateful for their thoughts and prayers."

It was a sentiment echoed by those in the crowd tonight, among them New Yorker Kyle Gauthier.

Bon Jovi were the main attraction.

"Fun is very important to us," he told BBC News Online. "It proves New York is back - back to having a good time.

"We are not afraid of anything, and this restores confidence among Americans."

Lara Mercer from Rhode Island agreed, saying it would send a message to the terrorists: "It shows that we are strong, and no matter what happens, we are just going to beat them," she said.

Times Square's famous giant video screens showed images of American football players meeting New York police officers and firefighters.

Helicopter journey

There was also a poignant salute to members of the New York Fire Department American football team, the Bravest, which lost players in the September attacks.

At the end of the show, Bon Jovi were taken by helicopter to Giants Stadium, New Jersey to perform at half time. "