Spice Girls confirm Spice World UK stadium tour
Seven years after the Spice Girls’ last live show, and 11 years after their 2007–2008 reunion tour, the world’s most successful girl group are hitting the road once again, today announcing six UK stadium shows in 2019.
Promoted by SJM Concerts, Live Nation and Solo, the Spice World UK tour will initially visit Etihad Stadium in Manchester (1 June 2019), Ricoh Arena in Coventry (3 June), Stadium of Light in Sunderland (6 June), BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh (8 June), Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol (10 June) and Wembley Stadium in London (15 June).
Owing to Victoria Beckham/Posh Spice’s “business commitments”, the band – managed by Modest! Management and XIX Entertainment – will tour as a four-piece comprising Melanie Brown (‘Scary Spice’), Melanie Chisholm (‘Sporty Spice’), Emma Bunton (‘Baby Spice’) and Geri Horner (née Halliwell, ‘Ginger Spice’). Support will come courtesy of Jess Glynne.
“We are beyond excited to be reuniting next year for a stadium tour,” say the four in a joint statement. “Bringing girl power and our message of friendship and love back to the stage feels more relevant than ever. We hope everyone can join us for one big Spice Girls party.”
“Bringing girl power and our message of friendship and love back to the stage feels more relevant than ever”
“Being in the Spice Girls was a hugely important part of my life, and I wish my girls so much love and fun as they go back on tour,” adds Beckham. “I know they will put on an amazing show, and the fantastic fans past and present are going to have a wonderful time.”
Formed in 1994 by Heart Management’s Bob and Chris Herbert, and signed to Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment, the Spice Girls’ breakthrough came with 1996 debut single, ‘Wannabe’, which topped the charts in 37 countries. Their first album, Spice, sold more than 31 million copies worldwide, and the band went on to become the biggest British pop success since the Beatles, selling more than 85m records globally.
They last toured in 2007 and 2008, with the Return of the Spice Girls tour grossing US$107.2m from ticket sales and merchandising, though they returned for a well-received one-off performance for the London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony.
Tickets for Spice World 2019 are on sale this Saturday (10 November) from Ticketmaster and SJM’s Gigs and Tours, with Twickets as the official resale partner.
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Ricoh Arena names AXS ticketing partner
AXS has agreed a four-year deal to become exclusive ticketing partner of UK rugby club Wasps and its home ground, Ricoh Arena.
With immediate effect, AXS will ticket Wasps games at the 32,609-seat Coventry stadium, as well as Wasps Netball and concerts, exhibitions and other live events.
AXS, partially owned by AEG, will provide Wasps with AXS Mobile ID, its identity-based digital ticketing platform, allowing fans to buy tickets and enter the stadium using their mobile devices for the first time; Fan Account, a portal that allows ticket purchasers to create a friends and family group; and Fansight, which displays seatmaps of the stadium in high-definition virtual reality.
“This partnership with Wasps is a major landmark as we move to expand our fan-friendly ticketing experience to more venues in the UK”
“This partnership with Wasps is a major landmark as we move to expand our fan-friendly ticketing experience to more venues in the UK,” says AXS senior vice-president and managing director for Europe, Rob Byrne. “AXS technology puts the fans back at the centre of the experience – where they should be.”
Upcoming concerts at Ricoh Arena include Stepback 90s (Peter Andre, Vengaboys, Five) on 13 October, Stepback 80s (Bananarama, ABC, Tony Hadley) on 22 December and next June’s Soundscape Weekender.
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Ex-TTF MD Stuart Cain heads to Ricoh Arena
Stuart Cain has left The Ticket Factory (TTF) to take up a commercial director role at Ricoh Arena in Coventry, the venue’s owner, rugby union team Wasps, has announced.
Cain, who spent seven years at NEC Group-owned TTF, will be responsible for increasing usage of the event facilities at Ricoh Arena, a complex which includes a 40,000-cap. stadium, as Wasps’ managing director, commercial marketing.
Cain has a strong sports background, having formerly played club-level rugby union and worked at football clubs Glasgow Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“I’m looking forward to drawing on my commercial, marketing and media experience within sport and live events to help develop Wasps’ and the Ricoh Arena’s talented, driven commercial team,” he comments.
“We are excited by the expertise and extra leadership Stuart will bring to the business”
“Wasps have laid down very strong foundations in the community since they moved to the Midlands [from London] two and a half years ago and can only continue to go from strength to strength.”
Nick Eastwood, chief executive of the Wasps Group, adds: “We look forward to welcoming Stuart to our established, thriving team as we build upon a successful 2016/17 season. We are excited by the expertise and extra leadership Stuart will bring to the business as we approach our third year in the West Midlands and our 150th anniversary season as a club.”
Following Cain’s departure, The Ticket Factory staff report in to Phil Mead, managing director of NEC Group Arenas, while NEC’s commercial media team report directly to Paul Thandi, NEC Group CEO.
“Stuart Cain has had a successful seven-year career with the NEC Group, joining as group marketing services director before being promoted to MD, commercial marketing,” comments an NEC Group spokesperson.
“While we are sad to see Stuart go, we understand why he wanted to move back in to sport and we wish him well”
“Under his tenure, the commercial media team has grown, delivering in excess of £3m sales in 2017 for the first time ever. It has also agreed major commercial partnerships with a range of internationally renowned organisations, ranging from Barclaycard and Genting through to Avis, Firestone and Heineken.
“Stuart has also helped transform The Ticket Factory into a national ticketing agent that now sells 2.5m tickets per year for a range of events and visitor attractions.
“While we are sad to see him go, we understand why he wanted to move back in to sport and we wish him well.”
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