Concerts at Eden Park to double, local businesses and residents thrilled

• Hospitality businesses and residents are celebrating Eden Park being allowed to host more concerts.
• The Auckland stadium can now host up to 12 concerts annually.
• Eden Park says most of the public supported more concerts being held at the grounds.

More big-name artists could be heading to Auckland now that Eden Park has been given the go-ahead to host more concerts.

The stadium has been given permission by Auckland Council to host up to 12 concerts annually, double what is currently allowed.

Since it began hosting concerts in 2021, the stadium had been limited to six acts a year.

Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner said the stadium's resource consent application had significant public support.

Of more than 2000 public submissions, 94 percent were supportive of allowing more concerts, he said.

The change, beginning in January 2025, would bring more international acts to Auckland and increase economic benefits for the city, he said.

Earlier this month, the stadium hosted more than 160,000 people at three sold-out Coldplay concerts, with 60 percent of fans travelling from outside of the city.

"The economic benefit from these three concerts alone is expected to reach tens of millions," Sautner said.

Bars and restaurants would also benefit from the decision, Hospitality New Zealand chief executive Steve Armitage said.

People travelling from across the country to see international artists at the stadium gave Auckland businesses a significant boost, he said.

A North Shore pub he spoke to told him they saw business increase by 400 percent the week Coldplay was in town.

Danny Upton, the restaurant operations manager at Full Time Sports Bar, was also pleased.

"A lot of places have really been struggling and more concerts will be great for all the hospitality businesses in the area."

Concerts this year had dramatically increased foot traffic for the Kingslander, duty manager Whetoi Scott said.

Shona Tagg, who is the spokesperson for the Eden Park Residents Association, said 91 percent of its members felt more concerts would be great for the community.

"It's great to have Eden Park on our doorstep. People have moved here because of its closeness to Eden Park.

"Our members tell us it brings vibrancy to the community.

"A number of them attend events at Eden Park and they want to see it used more."

Concerts at the venue are now also able to finish at 11pm, instead of the earlier permitted time of 10:30pm.

Shows still cannot happen on a Sunday that is not followed by a public holiday and noise limits remain in place.

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