Australasia News: Stadium Concert Caps Raised; Festival Funding; Pill Testing

Aerial Views Of FIFA World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Venues
RAISING THE CONCERT CAP: Sydney’s 55,000-capapcity Allianz Stadium will be able to host up to 20 concerts per year thanks to ruling by the New South Wales government. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

AUSTRALIA


Allianz Stadium, SCG Concert Caps Raised

Promoters applauded New South Wales’ lifting the amount of concerts at Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground to 20 a year.

A cap of four shows annually followed noise and traffic issues at two Rolling Stones concerts in April 1995.

The extra 16 shows, which include two 10-hour festivals, will add an extra A$120 million ($79.1 million) a year to the state visitor economy.

Live Nation Australasia chair Michael Coppel called it “a logical step to ensure Sydneysiders won’t miss a beat when it comes to experiencing the world’s biggest musical acts and events.”

“The ability to host more stadium concerts each year will ensure Sydney is kept forefront of any discussions with artists planning to visit Australia,” said Frontier Touring CEO Dion Brant.

TEG CEO Geoff Jones noted, “We are developing a pipeline of tours and shows for the period 2024 through to 2026 and it is looking extremely exciting. We are delighted to see this world-class facility hosting more globally-recognised artists for Australian fans”.

Allianz Stadium, which caters for 55,000 at concerts, next hosts P!nk’s Summer Carnival Feb. 9 and 10. The largest concert crowd at Sydney Cricket Ground remains 45,191 for the WaveAid benefit concert, on Jan. 29, 2005.

The cap removal followed eight months of what the government called a “rigorous” debate.

Festivals Share In Gov’t Funding

Thirty-seven festivals shared in A$2.5 million ($1.64 million) in the latest round of the national government’s Live Music Australia grants.

The funds were for artist and marketing fees, infrastructure upgrades and capacity building.

Receiving A$100,000 ($65,962) each were Splendour In The Grass and Woodford Folk to book emerging Aussie acts, and for the six-city regional Groovin’ With The Moo to introduce more initiatives for artists and audience members with disabilities.

It allowed Red Country and Desert Harmony to stage in remote First Nations communities, and the two-city Pride In The Parkland to lift profile of LGBTQI artists.

Victoria Reconsidering Pill-Testing Stance

A third state could greenlight pill-testing at music festivals, after the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland.

After reiterating a strong stance against it, Victoria’s premier Jacinta Allan is “seek-
ing expert advice” in the aftermath of nine people hospitalised after ODing at the EDM Hardmission at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse (Jan. 6) and two at the Jan. 12 Melbourne Showgrounds stop of the nine-date hip-hop Juicyfest.

Coincidentally, the debate came as an Australian study – which claimed 64 drug-related deaths at festivals over 20 years could have potentially been prevented – was published in The International Journal of Drug Policy.

Assessing coroners’ reports, Assoc. Prof. Jennifer Schumann from Monash University’s
Dept. of Forensic Medicine concluded more stringent drug-checking could have averted 64 deaths.

The study found drug toxicity caused 46.9% of deaths, MDMA the most common cause (65.6%), and usually involved two drugs including alcohol.

NEW ZEALAND


Nighttime Economy Ticks For Christchurch

The Christchurch City Council received strong support to make changes to bolster a vibrant nighttime economy.

A survey of 3,000 residents and businesses indicated that nightlife growth should not be compromised by a growing inner city population, that the central city have higher noise levels than suburbs, indicated which areas be defined for entertainment, and that acoustic insulation be a priority.