A new report says Auckland’s Eden Park Stadium could almost triple its annual economic boost to the city if it hosted the 12 concerts it’s currently allowed to.
The stadium’s planning rules allow just 12 concerts a year, but the rules are more flexible for sports.
The Government announced earlier this month it will investigate whether the rules are too restrictive.
The independent Auckland University report analysed events held at the grounds during the 2023-2024 financial year, including three large concerts and a number of sports games.
It said the stadium created more than $37 million of annual GDP benefits to Auckland.
“Put simply, it shows how events at the stadium support local businesses, create jobs, attract visitors, and ultimately enhance Auckland’s global profile,” the report said.
Concerts delivered the largest returns, it said.
“A typical large concert adds around $8.3 million to Auckland’s GDP, supports 114 [full-time equivalent] jobs, and generates $4.3 million in household incomes per event night.
“Medium-large concerts also have substantial impacts, averaging $6.4 million GDP, 88 [full-time equivalent jobs], and $3.3 million in household incomes per event night.”
The report modelled two scenarios to look at the greater use of Eden Park while staying within the stadium’s physical and consented capacity, one looking at the maximum number of concerts, and another covering the maximum number of rugby matches.
From November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2024, Eden Park hosted 22 sports matches with a net GDP contribution of $13 million, and three concerts with a contribution of $24 million.
“Relative to the baseline of the 2023/24 season, the additional net GDP is almost three times higher under the concert scenario and around 1.6 times higher under the rugby scenario, with total net GDP impacts of $107 million and $60.5 million, respectively,” the report said.
“These results indicate that Eden Park has significant theoretical capacity to deliver a larger regional economic contribution with greater utilisation.”
Eden Park CEO says some consent constraints for concerts
Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner said there were a variety of constraints under its resource consent and unitary plan framework.
“With the precinct plan, Eden Park has the ability to hold up to 12 concerts but that means only six artists, there’s constraints around the number of artists in the 12-month period,” he said.
“There’s also the days, times, and also quantity throughout a month.”
Sautner said they wanted to see more concerts at the stadium.
“Sport and entertainment is crucial to our business model. In recent times we’ve been able to introduce the concert content, we want to see more concert content at our national stadium.”
“That being said, any of these outcomes is great for our city and our country. To have the full-time jobs created, the 3000 casual jobs on an event day, we know that our capacity for sports events is around 50,000 and for concerts 65,000, and with the likes of P!nk coming to Auckland, we had over 97% of hotel occupancy.”
Sautner said this created local jobs, supported the local neighbourhood, and also boosted Auckland’s profile on a global scale.
Locals want more events
Eden Park Residents Association spokesperson Shona Tagg said hosting all 12 concerts at the stadium would bring a vibrant atmosphere to the community.
“It would mean that we’re happy, because we’re seeing Eden Park used more, people definitely want Eden Park to be used more, and they want to go to the events that are on at Eden Park,” she said.
Tagg said residents wanted to see the stadium used in the best way possible over the year.
“If that’s currently up to 12 concerts or more sporting events, there’s more opportunity to use Eden Park more, and that’s what the residents want to see happen.
“It’s a no brainer that it’s beneficial to Kingsland and the local area around Eden Park, the residents are happy for more events, and it makes sense that it would boost the Auckland and the New Zealand economy.”
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