The Stones Set to Continue Auckland’s Economic Roll
Media Release: 4 April,
2014
The Stones Set to Continue Auckland’s Economic Roll
Today’s
announcement by The Rolling Stones that their Auckland
concert will definitely take place later this year is
welcome news for New Zealand fans, and will provide further
economic gain for Auckland following a bumper series of
concerts.
The summer line-up of Auckland-exclusive international music events generated more than 126,000 visitor nights and made a contribution to regional GDP of $14.6 million according to new research commissioned by Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA).
The research, conducted by The Fresh Information Company, was based on official ticketing data, large-sample online surveys of event attendees and financial information provided by event promoters.
More than 176,000 fans, over 79,000 from outside the Auckland region, have flocked to RFA-run stadiums in recent months to see world-class concerts and festivals. The Big Day Out music festival kicked off the year’s events in January, drawing 41,000 people to Western Springs Stadium. Global rapper Eminem staged his first ever New Zealand concert at Western Springs in February to a capacity crowd of 55,000, and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band played to 80,000 fans over two nights at Mt Smart Stadium in March.
“Securing events of this calibre is very much in line with RFA’s vision for Auckland and we are constantly seeking opportunities to bring international concerts and shows to the city, says RFA Chief Executive Officer, Robert Domm.
Domm says that while the social and cultural contributions of the city’s arts and entertainment sectors are well understood, less well documented is the significant economic contribution and strategic role they play in positioning Auckland as a world-class destination.
He
says this significant economic contribution is further
illustrated by the recent success of the international
Broadway blockbuster musical,
Wicked.
“Thirty-five percent of tickets for
Wicked were sold to people from outside Auckland.
Independent economic modelling commissioned by ATEED shows
that Wicked generated 36,770 visitor nights and made
a contribution to regional GDP of $4.66 million over the
ten-week season.”
With 55% of the audience
for the rescheduled Rolling Stones concert at Mt Smart
Stadium coming from outside Auckland, the event looks set to
generate an estimated $3.5 million in economic benefits for
the city later this year.
Domm says that the very high
attendee satisfaction scores of 92% for the Eminem concert
and 93% for Bruce Springsteen are also gratifying.
“We work very hard to ensure visitors to our venues
have a great experience, and the recent significant
improvements at Mt Smart and Western Springs Stadiums have
made them outstanding outdoor concert venues.
“Securing
and staging large-scale international concerts takes many
months of planning and hard work by dedicated professionals
and I’m delighted that these hugely successful events
illustrate, once again, the tremendous benefits our
activities bring to the city.”
– ENDS –
Background Information
The
rescheduled Rolling Stones Australia/New Zealand concerts
will take place between 25 October and 22 November 2014,
with the exact dates to be released as soon as the
scheduling is confirmed.
Bruce Springsteen & The E
Street Band, Mt Smart Stadium, 1-2 March 2014
• 80,000 attendees
• 40,540 visitors attracted to
Auckland by the event, generating 64,060 visitor nights and
a contribution to regional GDP of $8.39
million
• Return on regional investment of
191%
• Visitor spend of $12.4 million (excl
GST)
• 93% of attendees were satisfied or very
satisfied with the event
(average rating of 4.65 out of
5)
Rapture 2014 – Eminem, Western
Springs Stadium, 15 February 2014
• 55,000
attendees
• 24,420 visitors attracted to Auckland by
the event, generating 39,290 visitor nights and a
contribution to regional GDP of $3.51 million
• Return
on regional investment of 91%
• Visitor spend of $5.7
million (excl GST)
• 92% of attendees were satisfied or
very satisfied with the event
(average rating of 4.55
out of 5)
Big Day
Out, Western Springs Stadium, 17 January 2014
• 41,000 attendees
• 14,350 attendees attracted
to Auckland by the event
• An estimated 22,830 visitor
nights and a contribution to regional
GDP of $2.7 million
(based on Eminem and Bruce Springsteen
data)
Wicked, The Civic, 17
September - 24 November 2013
• 100,000+
attendees
• 25,740 visitors attracted to Auckland by
the event, generating 36,770 visitor nights and a
contribution to regional GDP of $4.69 million
• Return
on regional investment of 81%
• Visitor spend of $8.61
million (excl GST)
• 92% of attendees were satisfied or
very satisfied with the event
(average rating of 4.66
out of 5)
Western Springs Stadium improvements
($880,000) include:
• Health and safety
improvements on the main bank including new stairwells,
walkways and emergency exit
• New stairwells on the
existing terrace
• Additional
lighting
• Installation of fibre to support temporary
event infrastructure
• New public address system and
CCTV
Mt Smart Stadium improvements ($600,000)
include:
• Development of new emergency
stairwell and emergency gate for concert
events
• Widening of existing walkways and stairwells
to facilitate pedestrian flow at concert
events
• Installation of fibre to support temporary
event infrastructure
Regional Facilities
Auckland
One of six council-controlled
organisations, Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) is a
charitable trust governed by a Board.
RFA manages more
than $996-million worth of major regional facilities and
landmark venues across the city, including Auckland Art
Gallery, Auckland Zoo, Viaduct Events Centre, The Civic,
Aotea Centre, Auckland Town Hall, Mt Smart Stadium, Western
Springs Stadium, and the Bruce Mason Centre. THE EDGE,
Auckland Conventions and Auckland Stadiums also form part of
the RFA group.
Working for Auckland in partnership with key stakeholders, RFA provides a regional voice for the arts, culture, heritage, and sport and leisure sectors to advocate for and lead strategic thinking that contributes to making Auckland a vibrant and prosperous city in which to live and visit.