New Zealand stadium seeks to double concert limit

Operators of New Zealand’s national stadium are bidding to double the number of concerts it is allowed to host per year.

The 60,000-cap Eden Park in Auckland is currently permitted to hold six gigs a year but has applied to increase the limit to 12, to be “performed by no more than six different artists”.

P!nk brought her Summer Carnival Tour to the venue for two nights in March, with shows by Travis Scott (31 October) and Coldplay (13 & 15-16 November) still to come before 2024 is out.

“Increasing the number of concert events will help Auckland and New Zealand continue to be an appealing destination for major international tours,” says Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner, as per Coliseum. “Concerts at Eden Park have become integral to our country’s cultural landscape, delivering significant socio-economic benefits to our local community and city.”

The move comes after acts such as Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish elected to skip New Zealand on their latest tours. New Zealand was included on The Weeknd’s cancelled 2023 tour but is not part of the revised 2024 itinerary “due to schedule and logistical constraints”.

“The current limit of six concert events per year at Eden Park restricts the stadium’s ability to attract and accommodate top-tier international acts,” adds Sautner. “By increasing this limit, Eden Park can offer artists flexibility to perform multiple shows to meet fan demand, making Auckland a more attractive stop on their global tours.”

“We have proven we can deliver large-scale international concerts successfully”

Moreover, Sautner says the bid has the support of the overwhelming majority of the Auckland public and notes that 70% of the venue’s current revenue streams did not exist five years ago, highlighting the evolution of the business.

“Live events such as concerts provide escapism and entertainment for people,” he continues. “We have proven we can deliver large-scale international concerts successfully and with an overwhelming 95% of our local community in support of concerts, we want to have the option to bring more world-class entertainment to our city.”

Speaking in IQ‘s 2024 Global Arena Guide, Mark Gosling, general manager of Auckland’s Sparks Arena (cap. 13,280), offered an update on the state of play for live music in the country.

“We are confident that the pipeline of international acts is looking consistent for the remainder of 2024 and into early 2025,” he said. “The pandemic impact has largely subsided, and the touring cycle has returned back to its normal timing, with the southern hemisphere very busy from October through to April during the northern winter.”

A new 55,000-seat stadium was proposed for the Quay Park area of Auckland earlier this year.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Read More Like This

News|08 May 2024

Capacity increase for New Zealand’s Spark Arena

The Auckland venue recently hosted concerts by Jonas Brothers, Queens of the Stone Age, SZA, Blink 182 and Fred Again..

News|15 Apr 2024

New Zealand festival to ‘take a break’ in 2025

"It looks like it's going to be a really tough year for festival promoters," say Splore Festival organisers

News|14 Aug 2024

New Zealand festival expands to two days

Christchurch's Electric Avenue is predicted to attract around 60k fans to the city over two days in February next year

News|18 Mar 2024

Usher’s London residency reaches double figures

The American R&B star has sold out 16 arena shows across Europe to date for his 2025 USHER: Past Present Future Tour

News|23 Jul 2024

Duran Duran net Italian first with double sellout

The iconic group have become the first act to sell out two nights at Lucca Summer Festival's Piazza Napoleone