Last year, the Convocation Center sought to bring Northern Illinois University a memorial concert after Feb. 14. Next year may be more realistic according to the director of the Convocation Center, John Gordon.

According to an issue of last May’s Northern Star, a memorial concert was in the works for the spring semester but the Convo scrapped it for fall semester due to lack of time and lack of big-name artists available.

The article stated the concert would take place in late September or early October of this year, however, Kevin Selover, the Convocation Center director of marketing, said the Convo has had difficulty securing an act.

“It has been very challenging for us,” Selover said. “As of this moment, nothing is confirmed.”

Selover said the Convo has approached nearly 75 bands, but for various reasons has not been able to confirm an act. Selover said some bands backed out while others had scheduling conflicts. Of the acts approached were Kayne West, Fallout Boy, Plain White Tees, among others.

Best Buy is serving as a sponsor for the concert to help offset the cost and “physically get the band here,” Selover said.

Gordon said NIU has been working with Best Buy in hopes of providing students with a quality show and has turned down several options because of timing and other circumstances.

“We have been following their lead,” Gordon said. “We have turned things down because they didn’t make sense,” Gordon said.

Although the concert has experienced some hang-ups, Selover emphasized the Convo Center has put forth a tremendous effort in hopes of providing students with a great show and remains optimistic about the future of the concert.

“By no stretches is the idea gone,” Selover said. “We are definitely not saying this isn’t going to happen.”

Selover believes the concert is very important and serves a purpose for students and the university.

“The point is to raise a significant amount of money for the memorial,” Selover said. “We are trying very, very hard for this.”

Gordon said the Convo wants to provide students with a show of great variety in hopes of appealing to the most students. Gordon said the Convo is tentatively scheduling the concert for next year, near February. Gordon said the proceeds will go to the memorial fund.

“Every possible nickel we can send is going to the memorial fund,” Gordon said.

Marlon Haywood, president of Campus Activities Board, believes the concert will help students move on after last year and will provide students with something to look forward to this year.

“I think [the concert] is important to help motivate students for this year,” Haywood said.