That is tracking ahead of One NZ Stadium’s forecasted $50m economic injection for the year.
Just under 287,000 guests flocked to events in the first two months with their spending per head at rugby games nearly doubling that at the former Addington venue.
A packed schedule has included a sold-out super round of Super Rugby games between 10 teams attended by more than 73,000 people over three days, the Once in a Lifetime concert and the Warriors.
Coming events are next month’s test between the All Blacks and France, rugby league games between the Kiwis and Cook Islands and Kiwi Ferns versus France and concerts by Robbie Williams and the Foo Fighters in October.
Venues Otautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said the stadium had got away to an ‘‘awesome’’ start from a busy schedule.
‘‘The total estimated impact packed across 60 days is around $21m so we originally forecast around $50m for 12 months of operation and to see $21m in the first 60 days is pretty incredible.’’
That included 650 slow-cooked lamb shoulders sourced from Canterbury, 530 sides of Akaroa salmon and 2870kg of local beef.
Local food vendors received $1.64m in the first two months.
The results were released in a performance report to the Christchurch City Council’s finance and performance committee.
She told the committee stadium revenue was flowing to the region.
‘‘The feedback we are getting is so much around the venue and the experience of being under the roof and having that intimate experience of whatever’s happening on the field or on the stage.’’
The stadium had helped generate positivity in the city, she said.
Venues Ōtautahi runs sporting and other events at venues such as the stadium, Christchurch Town Hall, Hagley Oval, Wolfbrook Arena and Air Force Museum.
Before the stadium opening, the venue operator welcomed about 520,000 guests from 19 events including the Ed Sheeran concert in the first three quarters of the financial year.
Guest numbers are expected to reach the one million mark.
Pre-stadium event revenue for the first three quarters was $20.5m with an estimated economic impact of $35.7m, compared with about $41m for all of last year.
The new stadium was built at a cost of just over $656m.
Finance and performance chairman Sam MacDonald said the project coming under budget by $26m was a fantastic result for the largest infrastructure project by the council.
