PROVO — For the past two years, a ticket to the Stadium of Fire included a free helping of conservative political views.

Not this year.

Enough sparks flew over the choice of conservative talk show commentator Sean Hannity as the emcee for the patriotic event last year that organizers said they're changing show formats, and Hannity won't be needed.

"Even though we felt he was non-political in his emceeing, there was enough concern in the community because of his political stance on almost everything," said Paul Warner, a vice president on the America's Freedom Festival at Provo board. "It was not something we wanted to create a major problem over."

So this year, the show should have a more neutral tone.

"We never want to invite anyone to our show who would, by their participation, create a sense of exclusion for others," said Brad Pelo, the Freedom Festival trustee assigned to oversee the Stadium of Fire. "This is a celebration about our independence, not about our political leanings."

In 2003 and 2004, Hannity stood alongside performers like Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and former American Idol contestant Carmen Rasmusen, to lead the annual program in Brigham Young University's LaVell Edwards Stadium.

"Even though we didn't have him come because of a political agenda, he carries that with him wherever he goes," Warner said.

And some were upset because they felt he carried that agenda to the stadium, turning a patriotic program into a political platform.

"I think it's unfortunate that the Freedom Festival had an overly political theme last year," said Heather Pope, executive director of the Utah County Democratic Party. "Above all, any festival celebrating our independence should be focused on unifying rather than dividing Americans."

However, because the Stadium of Fire is privately run, Pope said there was no way to compel or request a different emcee. In the future, she said she hopes the festival will be more thoughtful in its choice of entertainers.

This year, as the Stadium of Fire celebrates its 25th anniversary using two new program directors from Los Angeles, organizers say an emcee is not needed.

The different style will be like an Olympic opening ceremony, Pelo said. Instead of having one main person who leads the show through its program, the Stadium of Fire will be a series of segments that proceed without constant narration.

While there was frustration expressed by some people, Warner said there were many Utah County residents who supported the choice of Hannity, whose radio program airs weekdays on KSL Newsradio 1160.

"A great majority were happy to have him there," Warner said. "For us, it in many ways was a plus, but there was enough of a negative that we felt, let's not compound it (by inviting him back)."

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