Jagger: Still loves a live stage show

They have scaled down their live performances and record production in recent years. But the tour will coincide with the 40th anniversary of their first public performance.

A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in New York confirmed the group had sought permission to land in the park.

"We're trying to accommodate that request," he added.

However, the Stones are otherwise keeping details of their tour under wraps.

Unconfirmed speculation suggests it will focus around a set of indoor arena gigs in the autumn.

Either way, music analysts predict it will be the biggest tour by a rock band this year.

Album

The group's last world tour lasted from 1997 to 1999. They played their last show in Cologne, Germany in June.

Since then, Jagger has issued a solo record and produced the World War II thriller film Enigma, which starred Kate Winslet.

Keith Richards: Also works on his own projects

Guitarist Ron Wood and drummer Charlie Watts have also released albums.

The Rolling Stones are not expected to release a new studio album to coincide with the tour.

Instead, they will reportedly issue a retrospective with a handful of new tracks.

Grand tour announcements in New York are a tradition for the Rolling Stones.

In 1975, they brought traffic to a standstill by playing Brown Sugar from the back of a truck.

In 1989, they detailed that year's tour during a news conference from a train in Grand Central Station.