Ed Sheeran 'massive' coup for Dunedin

Ed Sheeran's show is expected to be the biggest held at Forsyth Barr Stadium since it opened....
Ed Sheeran's show is expected to be the biggest held at Forsyth Barr Stadium since it opened. Photo: Getty Images
Pop sensation Ed Sheeran is set to perform Dunedin's biggest concert at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The two-time Grammy Award-winning English singer-songwriter has announced a seven-stop tour of Australia and New Zealand scheduled for March next year.

Dunedin's show - a South Island-exclusive - was scheduled for Thursday, March 29.

Tickets for what is likely to be a sell-out, potentially drawing up to 40,000 fans, go on sale at 2pm on May 23.

Sheeran's only other New Zealand concert will be at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on March 24.

His 2015 show at the same venue drew a crowd of nearly 50,000.

Dunedin Venues chief executive Terry Davies said yesterday the announcement was a "massive'' coup for the city and the venue.

"To secure an artist of today, of this calibre, is fantastic.

Terry Davies
Terry Davies

"It will be a fantastic injection into the local economy and there will be a brilliant vibe about the city that major events bring with them.

"His popularity is so immense, we know the tickets will be snapped up very quickly.''

Mr Davies said Sheeran's show was expected to be the biggest held at the venue since it opened.

The concert was expected to draw up to 40,000 fans - a bigger crowd than Fleetwood Mac, who performed in front of 35,000 people at the stadium in 2015.

Mr Davies expected fans would travel from around New Zealand and possibly even Australia to see Sheeran.

"We may see fans from across the Tasman want to see him multiple times and make the trip over.''

A sell-out Dunedin show might even encourage Sheeran's promoter, Frontier Touring, to consider a second concert in the city, Mr Davies hinted.

"`We hope March 29 will be a sell-out show, which would be very encouraging for the promoter,'' he said.

Confirmation of the concert would delight Sheeran's southern fans, who have been calling for the artist to perform in Dunedin since hints of a possible New Zealand tour emerged earlier this week.

It was also another success for DVML, which since the stadium's opening in 2011 has attracted major international acts including Sir Elton John, Aerosmith, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond and Fleetwood Mac.

Critics have argued the venue needed to secure younger artists to cater for a younger audience as well, and Mr Davies said doing so was an "enormous'' result.

However, it might not be the only good news coming, as DVML was still working to secure other events for next summer, Mr Davies said.

"We... hope to have some more news next month."

 

 

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