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80,000 Fans, $15M Local Impact: Ed Sheeran Sets Baltic Ticket Sales Record
Ed Sheeran performed for two consecutive nights at the newly renovated Darius and Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas, Lithuania, Aug. 3-4, gathering more than 80,000 fans, and setting a new ticket sales record in the Baltic states for a show by an international artist, according to L Tips Agency, the local promoter of the show alonside AEG Presents, and FKP Scorpio.
“Ed’s year in 2024 has been full of record-breaking shows not just in the Middle East and Asia but now in the Baltics,” commented Simon Jones, senior vice president, international touring, AEG Presents. “The shows in Lithuania this past weekend were a fantastic return to the region, and he continues on into Eastern Europe and the Balkans doing some of the biggest shows these countries have ever seen. It never ceases to amaze me.”
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FKP Scorpio touring director Inga Esseling added, “We are more than happy to have broken yet another record with the most attended show ever by an international artist in the Baltics. We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to L Tips and all local stakeholders without whom the second music concert ever in Kaunas stadium as well as 80,000 sold tickets in only two days wouldn’t have been possible.”
Ed Sheeran is the first international artist to perform in the newly renovated Dariaus and Gireno stadium in Kaunas. Mantas Vedrickas, head of the events department at Zalgiris group, operators of the stadium, commented, “Ed Sheeran’s concerts at Darius and Girenas stadium are a record breaker for the city of Kaunas. The effects of this show can be felt not only in Kaunas, but in all of Lithuania. I strongly believe that this show will be the groundbreaker for all international and local upcoming shows. I would like to give all the credit to everyone involved in organizing the event, and to Ed Sheeran and his team choosing our stadium.”
The director of the city’s municipal administration, Tadas Metelionis, talked about the economic benefits of the shows for the city: “Two weekend shows by Ed Sheeran at the newly renovated Kaunas Darius and Girėnas Stadium were a huge success for the city. The event featured a top-notch performance by the artist, along with constructive and effective communication between the event organizers, the city council, and numerous other stakeholders to ensure a wonderful experience for everyone.
“Not only were the concerts the biggest commercial event in Kaunas’ history, but they also attracted thousands of foreign concertgoers from neighboring countries, according to preliminary estimates. The concerts’ overall impact on the city’s economy is estimated to be around €14 million [$15 million]. The positive feedback from participants gives us confidence in hosting even more events in the future.”
Gints Putniņš, CEO of local co-promoter L Tips Agency, added: “We are happy and grateful for Ed Sheeran’s loyalty because we have already promoted all six of his shows in the Baltics together. It was a big challenge to promote the first shows of this level in the new Kaunas stadium, but with such a great local team and partners like FKP Scorpio, AEG, and the city of Kaunas, nothing is impossible.”
Ed Sheeran’s Baltic sales record doesn’t come as a surprise. The promoting companies had already announced this would happen nine months ago, when tickets went on sale. The first show on Aug. 3 had sold out within 24 hours, at which point half of tickets for the second night had also already been snatched up.