Australasia News: Roger Field Launches Further Afield; Untitled Group Restructures; More Concerts At Centennial, Eden Parks

AUSTRALIA

Former LN President Roger Field Launches Further Afield

Former Live Nation Asia Pacific president Roger Field, who left in late 2023, has returned with business advisory venture Further Afield.

It will advise businesses that interact with the live events industry, with a focus on business development, market insights and industry advocacy.

Further Afield will tap into Fields’ 30 years’ of experience in sponsorship, artist liaison & booking, ticketing, venue development & operations, production, and both core & ancillary revenue generation.

Fields will continue advocating with government for live events.

Untitled Group Restructures

Untitled Group, Australia’s largest independent promoter, unveiled a round of promotions and a new commercial growth division after a bumper 2023-24 summer season with over 500,000 tickets sold across festivals, tours and clubs.

Laura Hughes was elevated from head of public relations to director of communications. She now oversees a consolidated comms department covering corporate, customer relations and social impact to streamline and enhance brand messaging and external relations.

Touring & talent team leader Chris Sheppard is head of programming. Mesh Webb joined full time as programming & operations manager, Mia-Leigh Ford is now senior tour operations manager and Ela Rutherford junior promoter.

Seven changes at festival & event operations included Pantjiti Lawrence as workforce manager, Kelly McCaffrey as senior event manager, Miranda Nicol as event manager and Ellen Sproule as head of festival operations.

Co-founder and managing partner Christian Serraf heads the new commercial growth division, combining the partnership team under Dwayne Thompson and the ticketing team where Courtney Tahar became head of ticketing.

Push To Increase Centennial Park Concerts

Citing the need for spaces for festivals drawing 20,000, the Australian Festival Association called for the New South Wales government to lift the annual number of concerts at Sydney’s Centennial Park from eight to 12.

The park is home to the Good Thing, Dreamland and Listen Out festivals.

The increase of events in January from 4 to 20 at Allianz Stadium is set to inject up to $120 million (US$78.8 million) a year into the NSW visitor economy.

NEW ZEALAND

Eden Park Pushes For 12 Concerts

Eden Park stadium applied to Auckland Council to double the amount of concerts it can host to 12, and by six different artists.

“It will help Auckland, and New Zealand, continue to be an appealing destination for major international tours,” said CEO Nick Sautner.

The 50,000-seat Elder Park began hosting concerts 2021, with SIX60, Ed Sheeran, Guns N’ Roses, Billy Joel, and P!nk performing sell-outs, with Travis Scott and Coldplay set for late 2024.

The current rules prevent acts from playing multiple shows. Sautner estimated each show generates NZ$4.26 million (US$2.55 million) to the regional GDP through tourism, accommodation, hospitality and employment, and creates more than 2,000 job opportunities.