Hollies ticket sales starting to pick up

Slow sales of tickets for the Hollies concert in Dunedin in a fortnight means the event is still 1000 tickets short of breaking even.

Only about 4500 tickets have sold so far for the combined equestrian ''Ride the Rhythm'' event at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 1, although promoter Kevin Hansen said sales were starting to pick up.

For the event to break even, at least 5500 tickets needed to be sold and he was confident that would happen.

''It's going tremendously. We've sold 1000 [tickets] in the last four or five days.''

When asked if the low sales - the stadium seats 30,000 - would impact on the sound equipment used for the concert, Mr Hansen said ''obviously'' the sound system used for 15,000 people would be different from the one used for 6000.

''It's a huge stadium to try and fill up. You have to be realistic about it.''

He had spoken to Auckland-based sound equipment provider Oceania, which had assured him there would not be an issue whatever sound system was used.

''They're the best sound people in New Zealand.''

A decision on what sound equipment would be needed for the show would be made by January 29, when the truck transporting it south would leave Auckland, he said.

He hoped people would take advantage of ticket prices ''cheaper than anywhere else in the country'' to see the Hollies. VIP tickets cost $150 and adult tickets $79 for the Mitre 10 stand, $59 for the Speight's stand and $35 for upper stands.

It was hoped people would use the tickets to see the equestrian event as well, he said.

''I'd be disappointed if they didn't.''

Mr Hansen was pleased with the response to the equestrian events. Thirty-one horses, including 18 from Australia, were taking part in the grand prix event on the Friday night.

That generated a ''lot of income'', as each paid a $1000 entry fee to be in the running for the $125,000 grand prix prize.

rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz