Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium ready for 'busiest summer season yet'

Monday, 3 June 2019

Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium is preparing for its busiest year of events yet - with eight concerts already confirmed for the summer months.

Among the latest acts to announce they will play at the venue in Penrose, are Metallica, Queen and Elton John.

Acting Director of Auckland Stadiums' James Parkinson confirmed it would be the stadium's busiest concert season to date.

U2 are the latest band to announce they will perform at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland in November 2019.

'The last five summers, we've averaged about five shows per season but this year we already have eight confirmed and it's only June. So it's shaping up to be a busy one.'

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The venue can host up to 45,000 concertgoers and Parkinson said around 280,000 people were expected to visit the stadium to attend the eight gigs, with around 40 percent of people travelling from outside Auckland.

'Having events like these are part of having a vibrant city,' Parkinson said. 'It adds to the excitement of city life and is a drawcard, and a reason for those outside of Auckland to come and visit.'

The announced shows would also have a great economic benefit, Parkinson said.

'Drawing on research we've done, I'd estimate this will bring in $33 million of tourism spend to Auckland,' he said.

Metallica will perform at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on October 31.

Since 2014, Parkinson said the volume and frequency of concerts at the stadium had significantly lifted.

With the increase of large-scale events, more planning had been put into transport options to and from the venue, as well as increased security for the stadium.

'We've been working with Auckland Transport to provide integrated transport for any ticket holders - and there's a lot of planning around security, especially for our international acts, especially after the terror attacks this year. We have extra security, as well as police helping us, but we're still determining the increased measures.'

Those measures currently in place, include members of public being scanned with a metal wand to detect prohibited devices on entry to the stadium, and more barriers beng put in place to control vehicles.

Here's the concerts already planned for the Summer season:☸

Last week it was announced Irish rockers U2 would bring their Joshua Tree tour to the stadium on November 8.

U2 will also be supported by Noel Gallagher, of Oasis fame, touring under his solo moniker Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

Tickets for the Auckland date will be available on presale for U2.com subscribers from June 4-6, and go on general release on June 11.

In what the band claims will be a New Zealand first, stadium floor tickets will be entirely paperless.

QUEEN AND ADAM LAMBERT

Queen are heading back to New Zealand in 2020 with American Idol alumni Adam Lambert for a show at the stadium on February 7.

The new show has promised to be the band's most spectacular yet, described by set designer Ric Lipson as 'an innovative and interactive celebration of the continued power of Queen's music'.

Queen last toured New Zealand and Australia with Lambert in early 2018, and before that in 2014.

LISTEN IN 2019

The one-day music festival will start off the season on October 4 with Flume And Friends, Diplo and Schoolboy Q headlining.

6LACK and Slowthai also feature on the lineup.

Listen In describes itself as a 'concentrated version of Listen Out, Australia's primary national dance festival'.

ELTON JOHN

On what is claimed to be his final world tour, Elton John will play three shows at the stadium in February 2020.

Elton John's Farewell Tour is being touted as one of the mega-star's most 'energetic, dazzlingly-original and joyful celebrations,' promising a 'rare glimpse' into John's life through rare images and videos which will play throughout the show.

METALLICA

Heavy-metal rockers Metallica will play two shows at the stadium - one on Halloween and a second two days later.

The first gig sold out in under 12 minutes, much to the anger of fans trying to see the band for the first time in nearly a decade.

The two shows are Metallica's first ever headline stadium plays in New Zealand. They continue the WorldWired Tour that has played 130+ shows across the world since its 2016 kick-off.

Special guests Slipknot will provide support on all dates.