Coldplay NZ Show Injects $2.5M

Coldplay’s show last November at the 50,000-capacity Mt. Smart Stadium brought NZ$3.2 million ($2.5 million) into Auckland’s economy, according to research by the Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development.

More than half the audience came from outside the city for major concerts, it estimated – a figure confirmed by Vector Arena managing director Stuart Clumpas.

Official figures showed that musicals “Mary Poppins” and “Jersey Boys” also helped tourism: 35 percent of patrons came from outside Auckland with Mary Poppins estimated to add NZ$12.9 million ($10.1 million) in tourism spend over its 10-week run.

That month saw total guest nights in Auckland up 3.4 percent on the previous year, bucking the national trend of a 1.9 percent decline.

High tourism dollars are expected for the rest of the year as Beyoncé, One Direction, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Leonard Cohen, Rihanna and Fleetwood Mac all head to the 8,000-seater Vector Arena.

Daily Pulse