Australia and New Zealand continue to be bull markets when it comes to concerts, packing venues with multiple runs for some of the world’s biggest artists. Beyonce, One Direction, Pink and Bruce Springsteen have all walked with eight figure grosses in 2013. Despite a sudden cancellation of the Rolling Stones planned tour through the region, 2014 is shaping up to be a great year with Keith Urban, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Nitro Circus Live! all set to make big landings on the continent.
Multiples Add Up To Big Success
Allphones Arena in Sydney hosts a number of lucrative long runs
Once just isn’t good enough for Allphones Arena GM Guy Ngata, who hosted a record number of multiple-run shows in 2013 at the AEG Ogden facility in Sydney.
“We did four shows for Beyonce, four shows for Pink, two shows with Justin Bieber, three shows with Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street band and six performances for Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal,” he said.
But perhaps the building’s biggest success was selling out seven shows for pop band One Direction, grossing nearly $8 million. The 81,542 tickets sold for the event broke the record of 74,244 set by Metallica in 2010. The October shows were promoted by Nine Live and Sony Music as part of the band’s 26-show Take Me Home Australian & New Zealand Tour.
“We were able to do something really special for the guys and unveil stars for them at the Sydney Olympic Park precinct,” Ngata said. “It’s the first band we’ve honored in this way and the plaque sits outside the main entrance to the arena.”
Next on the calendar is an April 11 show by Asian pop star Jay Chou, then Nitro Circus Live! on May 23, Keith Urban on June 21 and 22 as well as a rematch of the 2014 Olympic Semifinal men’s hockey game with Canada’s gold medalist team facing off against Team USA.
Contact: +61 02 8765 4321
Mrs. Carter rocks Auckland
Vector Arena has killer run with pop acts and popular spaces
Beyonce’s Mrs. Carter World Tour conquered Auckland with four sellout shows Oct. 16-19, breaking the building’s record for sales with 44,596 tickets sold. The Live Nation-promoted tour was also the fastest selling outing in the building’s history. The previous venue record was held by Roger Waters (also a Live Nation tour), with 40,348 tickets sold for The Wall in 2012.
“The show was absolutely phenomenal,” said Vector Arena GM Stuart Clumpas, who counts March sellouts by Nine Inch Nails and Bruno Mars among his recent success stories.
Clumpas has developed a niche with a number of new hospitality spaces including the Heineken Green Room, a 100-cap bar and VIP lounge that can be rented out for private events.
“Access is restricted, depending on the event, but it is occasionally open as a concert bar,” he said. “We use it as a VIP space and have held meet-and-greets in the bar, as well as corporate events for Heineken.”
Inspiration for the space came following the building’s success with the Tuning Fork, a full service restaurant and bar that can also accommodate live performances. Molly Ringwald held two small jazz shows in the space last year.
Contact: +64 9 358 1250
ShowPlus Gives Buyers Premium Access
Brisbane (Australia) Entertainment Centre rolls out VIP package for Bublé show
May is shaping up to be a busy month for this AEG Ogden facility, explained GM Robert O’Keefe. On the books are Jason Derulo on May 3, Nitro Circus Live May 16-18, Celtic Thunder on May 23 and Michael Bublé, May 12 and 13.
“For the Michael Bublé show, we’ve extended our ShowPlus program and sold out of all available inventory,” said O’Keefe.
ShowPlus ticket buyers get either floor or lower bowl seating, a 90-minute preshow reception with food and drinks, a one-hour after-party and merchandise from the show, along with free parking. Tickets for the package are $335.
Brisbane was one of 14 Australian and New Zealand venues forced to postpone a run of red hot Rolling Stones shows scheduled for March, following the death of Mick Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott.
“We think they’ll come back. The plan right now is for them to reschedule and all we can do is wait to see what happens,” said Tim Worton, AEG Ogden’s Group Director of Arenas.
Contact: +61 2 8765 4355
Step into the Inner Sanctum
Etihad Stadium in Melbourne caters to VIP patrons
GM Paul Seargent said his company was looking to give their customers a high-end experience when they developed the Inner Sanctum.
“The idea was to create a fully immersive sporting experience,” said Seargent, whose Etihad Stadium in Melbourne regularly hosts Australian League Football matches of different teams from around the country. “We developed a space within our suite inventory with first-class dining, continuous drink service and a pregame program that includes a three-course banquet-style meal, along with discussions from past AFL players.”
The package also includes premium seats outside the function room, which serve as a cafe and bar at the start of game time. Tickets are $375 for one person, or $3,750 for a table of 10.
Contact: Paul Seargent, +61 3 8625 7424
Nitro Returns To Oz
Rod Laver Arena to host relaunch of popular action sports series
The Rod Laver Arena is enjoying one of its biggest years to date with a slate of March shows that included One Direction, Beyonce and several rounds of both men’s and women’s tennis during the Australian Open.
“We’ve kept extremely busy here and really show no sign of slowing down,” said Arena Contracts Manager Meagan Walker. “Through May we have upcoming shows for John Mayer, Jason Derulo and Katy Perry.”
The Rod Laver Arena will also play host to the return of Nitro Circus Live!, which got its start in Australia, “and is going to be a totally new show with a brand new multimillion-dollar set” including new stunt obstacles like Wall of Death, Launch of Splat and the BMX Super Kicker.
“And the Gigant-a-Ramp they’re using for the show is (10 feet) higher which produces bigger stunts,” Walker said. “There is a ton of excitement around this event.”
Contact: + 61 3 9286 1600
The Kids Are Alright
Golden Ticket event raises big money for charity
The venue in Western Australia officially celebrated its one-year birthday in November with 479,524 tickets sold for 2013. GM Michael Scott said the biggest shows included Bruce Springsteen and the Hyundai Hopman Cup, a February tennis tournament and precursor to the Australian open.
“That event was great and part of our Golden Ticket promotion which ran in conjunction with Radio Lollipop,” a Perth-area children’s charity. “For $10 a ticket, fans could enter the chance to win two tickets to every single event at our building for one year. The proceeds went to Perth’s new Children’s Hospital.”
After 45 days and over 12,000 submissions, the promotion raised $128,567 for Children’s Hospital. A local school teacher won the prize.
Contact: +61 (8) 6211 7600