The results are in and it’s official – FISHER, the inaugural concert at Bay Oval, delivered a standout economic boost for Tauranga.
Event economic impact data produced by event specialists Fresh Info, has revealed the significant social and economic benefits delivered to the city.
International and domestic visitors spent more than $4 million in Tauranga while here for the concert, generating a net benefit to the city of $2,571,397.
More than 20,000 fans packed the sun-drenched Bay Oval on 31 January to see one of the world’s most in-demand artists perform his New Zealand-exclusive show, with more than half travelling from out of town.
Event-driven visitors – those who travelled to Tauranga specifically for the concert – generated 19,902 visitor nights, providing a meaningful lift for local accommodation, hospitality, and retail businesses.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the event was a resounding success.
“We knew bringing FISHER to Tauranga would be exciting but having the numbers to back that up has beaten our expectations. FISHER showed the potential of Bay Oval as a concert venue which opens up plenty of future opportunities that we are excited about,” says Mahé.
“Events like this don’t just bring visitors and economic benefits to our city - they create real buzz, energise the community, support local businesses, and raise Tauranga’s profile on the global stage. And FISHER did exactly that, bringing Bay Oval to life like never before and delivering an unforgettable night for thousands of people.”
FISHER also strongly delivered on community impact. 95% of attendees reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their experience, while 97% of Tauranga resident attendees said events like FISHER increase their pride in the city and make it a more enjoyable place to live.
Visitors also left with a positive impression, with 81% saying the concert improved their perception of Tauranga as a place to visit or live.
Trademark Live director Toby Burrows says delivering the concert at Bay Oval was a milestone for the team.
“We are absolutely stoked with the success of FISHER at Bay Oval this January. To be the first to use this incredible venue as a concert space was a long-term goal. We love delivering large scale events in our home city and it was amazing to see the city come alive for the weekend with such a buzz.
“We felt a real buy in from the city, from bars, shops, restaurants, cafes, accommodation providers all getting right behind the event. The support from council right throughout has been exceptional, and we are very grateful. We look forward to bringing more great events here with some of the biggest international artists.”
The success of FISHER shows what’s possible, with Bay Oval stepping confidently into concert mode. Bay Oval General Manager Kelvin Jones says it was thrilling to see the venue come alive in a completely new way.
“Seeing Bay Oval transformed into a concert venue was something really special. It highlighted just how versatile the venue is and the atmosphere on the night was incredible.
“We were especially pleased to see the pitch come through without any damage, that's obviously a priority for us.
“It’s a fantastic example of what can be achieved when everyone works together. We’re grateful to Tauranga City Council, Trademark Live and all the partners who helped make this incredible event happen.
| Image caption | Over 20,000 music fans packed Bay Oval for the first-ever concert at the venue, on a stunning summer night. Photo credit: Trademark Live. |