Billy Joel – ‘The Piano Man’ To Play The Park On Saturday, 3 December For One Night Only

Billy Joel, ‘The Piano Man’ superstar, legendary musician and songwriter is returning to New Zealand to belt out his greatest hits for one night only at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday, 3 December.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Billy Joel to Eden Park,” said Nick Sautner, Chief Executive Officer of Eden Park. “He is one of the century’s greatest musicians, selling out arenas and stadiums across the globe. This will be a memorable and historic night.”

Joel’s only other show in Australasia is at Melbourne’s MCG on Saturday, 10 December which sold out in record time. Demand for the Auckland show at Eden Park is expected to be similarly intense.

“This is a massive coup for Auckland and New Zealand – an iconic musician playing at an iconic stadium. With Billy Joel’s Melbourne show selling out in seconds, we’re anticipating the demand for tickets to this, his only New Zealand concert, to be extremely high.”

Eden Park, known in sporting circles as ‘the Fortress’ and home of the All Blacks, is preparing for a massive summer of concerts.

“Our November to February schedule has never looked busier. Local artists SIX60 kick off the concert season in November, with Billy Joel now following just a few weeks after. Classic rockers Guns N’ Roses and Grammy-Award winning Ed Sheeran are also included in the jam-packed summer lineup.

Sautner also notes the substantial economic benefits for Auckland from holding concerts at Eden Park, with local hospitality businesses enjoying significantly increased revenue pre and post-event.

“Our first concert, SIX60, saw over 15,000 visitor nights resulting from the event and over $5.5m in net benefit for the city of Auckland. With Billy playing only two shows in Australasia, we expect his Eden Park show will produce an even greater positive economic impact for the whole country. Joel’s arrival to our shores is possibly one of the best Christmas presents for the events, hospitality and tourism sectors.”

Billy Joel, one of the world’s most respected entertainers, ranks as the third best-selling solo recording artist of all time, having sold more than 160 million records across his career. He last captivated New Zealand audiences and critics in 2008 by playing all the biggest hits – Uptown Girl, Just the Way You Are, New York State of Mind and Tell Her About It, amongst many other well-known songs.

“We cannot wait to hear Billy Joel’s classic anthems filling New Zealand’s national stadium. Eden Park’s seating capacity, transport connectivity, proximity to the city and facilities that cater to all demographics make us the promoters’ venue of choice in New Zealand.

“The stadium has been designed to accommodate capacity crowds with permanent toilets, food and beverage outlets, function areas and designated entry/exit points – everything a concert-goer in 2022 needs. We’re ready to open our doors and welcome Billy Joel along with his biggest fans.”

“We’re delighted that some of the greatest artists of our time will be performing at the Park. From concerts to international cricket to Te Matatini, there will be something for everyone at the Park this summer,” said Mr Sautner.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday 21 July at 12 p.m. NZST via www.livenation.co.nz

About Eden Park

Eden Park is New Zealand’s national stadium and a globally iconic arena, located in central Auckland. With 118 years of history, the Park has hosted some of the world’s most memorable sporting moments from cricket, to rugby, to rugby league and football. A range of other community initiatives and events are also hosted throughout the year.

Eden Park Trust operates as a statutory not-for-profit body corporate, registered as a charitable trust with the Charities Commission. Its objectives are to promote, operate and develop Eden Park as a high quality multi-purpose stadium for the use and benefit of rugby and cricket as well as other sporting codes and other recreational, musical, and cultural events for the benefit of the public of the Auckland region.

Its rich history and profile is unmatched by any other stadium in the country. From its beginnings as a cricket ground in 1903, Eden Park became the primary venue for major summer and winter sport in Auckland when in 1913, the owner, Auckland Cricket, leased winter use of the ground to Auckland Rugby.

A Deed of Trust establishing Auckland Cricket and Auckland Rugby as the beneficial owners of Eden Park was signed in 1926 and was enshrined in legislation in 1955. In 2011 that legislation was significantly amended and now reflects the objects noted above. Most notably remembered for hosting the 1987 and 2011 Rugby World Cup Finals, Eden Park remains the home of both Auckland Cricket and Auckland Rugby, as it has been for more than a century.

Each year, more than half a million sports and entertainment fans from around the world visit Eden Park. The stadium successfully hosts sell-out crowds of up to 50,000 on match days and hosts more than 1,000 non-match day functions per year. A range of community initiatives are also hosted throughout the year including the likes of The Lifewise Big Sleepout, Auckland City Mission Christmas Appeal, Walk for Awareness (SNAP Fitness – Mental Health), Japan Day, NZ Eid Day, The World’s Biggest Bootcamp, Eden Rugby Holiday Clinic, Field of Dreams, The Block NZ: Firehouse, Learn 2 Ride (Auckland Transport) and the Eden Park Dog Walking Club, as well as local school assemblies and duathlons.

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