News Rod Stewart will headline at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin in April next year is welcome.
The show is something of a coup for the city, with Dunedin and Auckland the only New Zealand shows in the 69-year-old legendary British rock star's ''The Hits'' tour, which includes seven Australian performances.
Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive Terry Davies is reportedly ''excited'' to secure the show, which he hopes will attract an all-ages crowd of 20,000 from around the South Island.
There is no doubt about the veteran rocker's worldwide following. He has had decades of stellar success in the business, selling more than 100 million records and boasting a long list of popular hits.
Hopefully, that will translate into ticket sales in Dunedin. Elton John attracted 35,500 to his November 2011 Dunedin concert, and Aerosmith attracted 20,000 in April last year.
That same month Paul Simon drew a crowd of 12,500 (it is worth noting his biggest crowd in Australia for that tour was 9000). The Hollies, who performed in February 2013 as part of equestrian show Ride the Rhythm, attracted 6500 people, just over break-even for that event.
It is important such major international acts are chosen carefully and do attract big crowd numbers, as the costs of bringing them here are considerable, and the risk is that concerts run at a loss or only break even.
Every effort must be made to ensure the stadium makes a profit where possible. The majority of the debt burden is already footed by ratepayers; it is important they do not feel as though they are subsidising every stadium activity as well.
However, variety is the spice of life and many Dunedinites would probably be more willing to subsidise the occasional act if there were enough major events that were profitable.
Of course, there is the wider economic benefit to the city to consider, with concerts, sporting fixtures, events and conferences all vital for attracting the additional visitor dollar to the city.
A report estimated Sir Elton's concert was worth $14.9 million to the Dunedin economy through shopping, food, beverage and accommodation spending.
The figures were disputed at the time, but there can be no doubt there is a noticeable influx in visitors and a real buzz in the city when such acts, or big sporting events, are held here.
But, sadly, it has been a long wait between acts. By the time Stewart plays here it will have been two years since the Aerosmith and Simon concerts, and they were a year and a-half after Sir Elton's concert.
While the proof will be in the pulling power - and the bottom line - many in the city will be anticipating the Rod Stewart concert representing a change in fortunes for the stadium and DVML.
It appears Mr Davies, who took up the role in March, has managed to forge a better working relationship with Melbourne music promoters Dainty Group and Frontier Touring, which is promoting Stewart's tour.
The company is headed by Michael Gudinski, whose spat with the first DVML chief executive, David Davies, over originally getting Stewart and Meat Loaf to the stadium hit the headlines.
Mr Davies took over the role from Darren Burden five months ago with DVML facing predicted losses of $3.8 million over the next three years.
He has vowed to lift DVML's performance, sharpen the company's commercial focus, reinvigorate staff weary after years of criticism, and encourage the community to be proud of the stadium, by targeting more big concerts and creating new ''iconic'' events and festivals for the venue.
Undoubtedly, there is much work to be done to satisfy Dunedin ratepayers and audiences.
Stewart is timeless and will attract many, and it is good to see the younger generation being catered for with a visit to the city by homegrown global superstar Lorde, who managed to sell out the town hall in two hours.
Mr Davies believes it is realistic to attract at least one A-grade concert every year or two, and more at the next level. Let's hope he is right.
