Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) is anticipating events hosted at its venues will generate an estimated $53 million in visitor spend this summer – eclipsing all previous records.
Concerts and major events in venues such as Mt Smart and Western Springs stadiums and The Civic are set to attract more than 394,000 people from now to the end of March. Over the next six months, visitors to RFA’s stadium events alone will peak at around half a million visitors.
Of those attending events, more than 168,000 will travel from outside Auckland, making the ‘gig economy’ a significant contributor to Auckland’s tourism industry.
RFA Chief Executive Chris Brooks is delighted Auckland has firmly established itself as the entertainment capital of the country and that RFA’s venues are so popular among the world’s biggest promoters.
“Over the last eight years, we have successfully positioned Auckland as a vibrant summer entertainment destination where you can attend major international touring concerts, blockbuster musicals, exhibitions and festivals.
“This has a significant flow-on effect for Auckland’s economy, including the accommodation, hospitality and tourism sectors. It is extremely rewarding to see the huge economic and cultural benefits our activities bring to the city and this summer will be our biggest yet,” says Brooks.
RFA has worked with fellow CCO Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development on several events this summer, whose sponsorship supports the significant economic returns these events will generate.
RFA summer line-up
- A Place to Paint: Colin McCahon in Auckland, Until 27 January, Auckland Art Gallery
- Takiri: An Unfurling, Until 7 June 2020, New Zealand Maritime Museum
- Denmark Design, 26 October–2 February, Auckland Art Gallery
- Taste of Auckland, 31 October–2 November, Queens Wharf
- Speedway, 1 November–8 March, Western Springs Stadium
- Les Misérables, 7–30 November, The Civic
- U2 Joshua Tree Tour, 8 & 9 November, Mt Smart Stadium
- OUR:HOUSE, 15 November, Queens Wharf
- Monster Energy SX Open, 16 November, Mt Smart Stadium
- Friday Jams Live, 17 November, Western Springs Stadium
- A Gala Concert in the Presence of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa,
20 November, Aotea Centre - Tuatara Baseball Season, 21 November – 26 January,
North Harbour Stadium - Festival X Rising, 28 November, Western Springs Stadium outer fields
- The Wizard of Oz, 29 November – 1 December, Aotea Centre
- Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts, 21–23 December, Bruce Mason Centre
- Auckland Zoo Open Lates, mid-January – March 2020
- Fat Freddy’s Drop, 18 January 2020, Western Springs Stadium outer fields
- Queen & Adam Lambert, 7 February 2020, Mt Smart Stadium
- Gladys Knight, 13 February, The Civic
- Elton John – Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, 16, 18 & 20 February 2020, Mt Smart Stadium
- SIX60, 22 February 2020, Western Springs Stadium
- The Book of Mormon, 6–22 March, The Civic
- Snow White, 11–15 March 2020, Aotea Centre (Auckland Arts Festival event)
- Auckland Arts Festival, 11–29 March, various venues
- Mary Poppins, 1–18 April, Bruce Mason Centre
- The National, 3 & 4 April 2020, Aotea Centre
