Rolling Stones set to rock Auckland

Media Release
4 December 2013

The Rolling Stones set to rock Auckland’s bumper summer of entertainment

Securing The Rolling Stones concert is a big win for Auckland and will cap off an amazing summer of world-class events.

Today’s announcement confirms that The Rolling Stones will perform at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday 5 April in the only New Zealand concert of the band’s Australasian tour.

Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) worked together to help bring the legendary UK rockers to Auckland.

The Rolling Stones concert rounds off a series of stellar Auckland-exclusive concerts negotiated for the city by RFA, including American rapperEminem at Western Springs Stadium on 15 February, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Mt Smart Stadium on 1 and 2 March, and the iconic Big Day Out festival relaunching at Western Springs on 17 January.

RFA’s Chief Executive Robert Domm says attracting The Rolling Stones is testament to how successfully Auckland has established itself as an attractive destination for shows of this calibre.

“Auckland’s combination of excellent infrastructure, a can-do attitude and being a desirable destination is impressing off-shore concert promoters.” he says. “New Zealanders are also jumping at the chance to see these big-name acts in concert, so it’s a win-win for the promoters, musicians and fans alike.

“We estimate from ticket sales to date that around 50 percent of people attending these concerts will come from outside Auckland, bringing some $10 million into the local economy,” says Robert Domm.

The Rolling Stones announcement comes hot on the heels of ATEED launching its domestic marketing campaign – AKL: The Show Never Stops. The campaign is designed to encourage visitors to holiday in Auckland, with concerts and events being key reasons to come.

ATEED GM Destination & Marketing Rachael Carroll says these international, Auckland-exclusive concerts are strong drivers of domestic visitation.

“Stars of this calibre attract people from around the country to Auckland and generate tens of thousands of visitor nights for the region. This announcement helps to fulfil our promise that ‘The Show Never Stops’ in Auckland,” she says.

Alongside the summer’s big concerts is a host of ATEED-sponsored major events, including the ASB Classic and Heineken Open, Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, the inaugural Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines, Auckland Seafood Festival, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, Lantern Festival, Pride Festival, Pasifika Festival and the ITU World Champs Series.

ENDS

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