Newcastle has scored a coveted spot on the upcoming world tour of American pop powerhouse Pink, who will take to the stage at McDonald Jones Stadium on February 13 next year.
The Summer Carnival Tour, presented by Live Nation, is the latest event secured as part of City of Newcastle’s Major Events Partnership with Venues NSW.
The announcement follows hot on the heels of two unforgettable performances by global music icon Elton John, who wowed 50,000 fans in Newcastle last month.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Pink concert will be the hottest ticket in town, drawing fans from far and wide to help deliver another multimillion-dollar windfall for Newcastle.
“Elton John’s visit demonstrated just how beneficial these world-class events are for our city, injecting $14 million into the local economy with more than 75 per cent of the concertgoers coming from outside of Newcastle,” Cr Nelmes said,
“This included 16,000 people from outside of the Hunter as well as interstate and international visitors, which plays an essential role in boosting tourism around the event, as well as encouraging repeat visitation in the future.
“With the success of Elton John’s visit and the news of Pink’s upcoming tour, which is expected to deliver a $9 million boost to local businesses, Newcastle has officially become a must stop destination on the national concert tour schedule.”
Venues NSW and McDonald Jones Stadium CEO Kerrie Mather said it was exciting to team up with Live Nation to bring Pink to McDonald Jones Stadium for the first time.
“It’s now well known among promoters and artists around the world that Newcastle is home to a fantastic stadium that delivers extraordinary experiences for patrons and artists alike,” Ms Mather said.
“Pink’s live shows are something that must be seen to be believed, and we can’t wait to welcome the music icon to Newcastle early next year.”
Major events are a key part of City of Newcastle’s Destination Management Plan as a primary driver of the local tourism economy, which was worth $1.27 billion pre-COVID.
Since announcing the Major Event Partnership in July last year, City of Newcastle and Venues NSW have worked together to attract a number of national and international events to McDonald Jones Stadium and the Newcastle Entertainment Centre including the Elton John concerts, the Australian Supercross Championship, an international netball match between Australia and England, as well as the upcoming Cup of Nations women’s football double header featuring Czechia, Spain, Jamaica and the Matildas.