Vector Arena earns place among the elite

Media release – February 8, 2008

Vector Arena earns place among the elite

Vector Arena’s first year of operations has been capped with a place among the top venues of the world.

Despite being open for less than a year, Auckland’s showcase entertainment venue was nominated for International Arena of the Year at the concert industry’s flagship CIC Pollstar Awards.

At a glittering awards ceremony in Los Angeles today (NZ time) Vector Arena was recognised alongside illustrious competition, including London’s O2 Arena and the iconic Wembley Arena.

This year’s award went to the O2 Arena, however Guy Ngata, Vector Arena’s General Manager, says it was a huge privilege to be nominated.

“Tonight was fantastic. We may not have taken home the award, but to see Vector Arena up there alongside venues like Wembley Arena, which everyone around the world knows, was a really proud moment.

“We are still in our first year since opening, and this nomination has been recognition of all the hard work behind the scenes to get us to the stage we are now at, where we are helping to bring some of the world’s top entertainment acts to New Zealand.

“Hopefully next year we can go one step further and take home the top prize,” says Mr Ngata who was at the ceremony at LA’s Nokia Theatre.

Vector Arena was the only southern hemisphere venue to be nominated.

The six venues vying for International Arena of the Year, alongside Vector Arena, were: Arena Monterrey (Monterrey, Mexico); Color Line Arena (Hamburg, Germany); Manchester Evening News Arena (Manchester, UK); O2 Arena (London, UK); Odyssey Arena (Belfast, UK); Wembley Arena (London, UK).

Award nominees were selected by a group of concert industry professionals, and voted on by subscribers to Pollstar magazine, the world’s largest resource of international concert tour information.

In addition to International Arena of the Year, categories include Best New Touring Artist, Most Creative Tour Package and Theatre of the Year.

Vector Arena, New Zealand’s largest multi-purpose indoor entertainment and sports complex, hosted its first show in March.

“Just 10 months later, to be attending an awards ceremony where we are being recognised alongside such well established venues is quite humbling.

“Thanks must go to those who have been involved with this project from the start, including Auckland City Council, Jacobsen Venue Management and to our naming rights sponsor Vector Ltd for their continued support.

“The promoters have really embraced Vector Arena, as is evident from the calibre of performers we have had through our doors already, and I think it’s fair to say Auckland can now punch well above its weight in the global entertainment industry,” says Mr Ngata who also expressed his thanks to the land owner, local Maori Iwi, Ngāti Whatuā o Orakei, whose continuing support has been crucial to the success of the venue.

Meanwhile, 2008 is looking set to be an even bigger year for Vector Arena.

Rod Stewart’s eagerly awaited shows are set to take place this month, while other acts set to perform in the coming weeks include The Chemical Brothers, Carlos Santana, The Smashing Pumpkins and Split Enz.

Vector Arena’s first family show, High School Musical “The Ice Tour”, is scheduled for the end of May.

For more information on the Pollstar Awards, visit www.pollstarpro.com/awards

ENDS

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