The Sir Elton John concert in Dunedin this month will be the largest concert staged in New Zealand so far this year.
Capital C: Concerts promoter Phil Sprey said a 35,000 capacity crowd was expected at the November 25 concert.
About 800 tickets still remained unsold yesterday in the licensed upper south stand ($275 each) and the premium platinum ($400 each) and diamond ($300 each) areas.
"With ticket sales having reached 34,000, the Elton John performance at Dunedin's new Forsyth Barr Stadium will be the country's biggest concert this year," Mr Sprey said yesterday.
"There's been no bigger concert in the country so far in 2011.
"Nothing even like those numbers. The Big Day Out gets up around 30,000 to 35,000, but that's over a whole day and a whole lot of bands; not just one concert," Mr Sprey said.
He conceded the record would last only weeks, with up to 55,000 people expected to attend the Foo Fighters concert in Western Springs in Auckland, on December 13.
Ticket sales slowed during the Rugby World Cup, but demand had surged since for what will be Sir Elton's first South Island concert for 20 years, he said, adding: "... this concert will also be the southern-most place he has ever performed in."
Sir Elton (64) will be backed by his long-time band, Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Kim Bullard, Bob Birch and John Mahon, with support from the 2Cellos and New Zealand singer-songwriters Katie Thompson and Kara Gordon.
The set list will be a "best of his 40-year career", including hits Rocket Man, Candle in the Wind, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie and the Jets, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, the Bitch is Back and Daniel.
