Adele to become Adelaide’s biggest concert

Adele’s Australian shows are breaking attendance records around the country. Next Monday (March 13), she’llplay what is going to be the biggest ever concert in Adelaide.

Her shows in Brisbane last weekend drew 60,000 each and were estimated to inject $40 million into the city’s economy. The two shows were officially lauded as the largest music concert ever in the city. A few days before, Adele’s Perth show, to 65,000 at the Domain Stadium, was announced as the biggest concert to hit the western city.

Live Nation Australasia President Michael Coppel told theAdvertiser that he expected over 60,000 to walk through the turnstiles at Adelaide Oval.

“I think it will break the record of U2 in 2006 at Football Park and I promoted that show, which was shy of 60,000 (58,000), and we’re going to exceed 60,000 with Adele,” he said.

Adele also beats the Rolling Stones’ draw of 54,000 to the opening of the Oval in October 2014.

Almost 100 extra portaloos are being brought in to cater for the Hello singer’s crowd.

According to the Advertiser, aside from u2 and the Stones, among Adelaide’s biggest concerts have been Dire Straits in 1986 (55,000+ Football Park), AC/DC in 2015 (52,000+ Adelaide Oval), Robbie Williams in 2006 (50,000+ Football Park), AC/DC in 2010 (41,000+ Adelaide Oval), Madonna in 1993 (40,000+ Adelaide Oval), Elton John/Billy Joel in 1998: (37,000+ Adelaide Oval) Foo Fighters in 2011 (36,000 Adelaide Oval) and Michael Jackson in 1996 (30,000+ Adelaide Oval).

It is not yet estimated the economic impact of Adele’s Adelaide show.

But it will add to the millions of dollars that are injected into the city’s economy through Mad March. This covers a host of events including Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide, Clipsal 500, Adelaide Writers Week and Adelaide Cup.

Last year the South Australian Government spent $35 million on enticing arts and sports lovers from Sydney and Melbourne.

In return, Adelaide Festival generated a record $78.3 million, with 30% of the attendees from outside South Australia and spending a record $28.2 million.

Add to this the $77 million boost to the state economy by the Adelaide Fringe and $60.6 million by the Clipsal 500. No specific figures are available for WOMADelaide, but last year it broke its own attendance record with over 95,000 entering over a four-day long weekend.

According to Festivals Adelaide, which is the umbrella for the city’s ten biggest festivals, these ten bring through the year 52,000 visitors whose gross expenditure in the state is $210 million per annum.

Last month, an Ernst and Young study reported that the Adelaide Festival Centre alone made a $107.81 million economic contribution to the Adelaide economy in 2015-2016.