Brent Eccles: Concert promoter on new Western Springs venue plan

Auckland Council has revealed it's latest plan for Western Springs including allowing space for concerts of up to 30,000 people, while still retaining the Ponsonby Rugby Club. 

Councillors are set to make a final vote on the plan by the end of March. 

Concert promoter Brent Eccles joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat about the plan. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ever dule, I've got a little update for you on
the ongoing saga of the Western Springs in Auckland. Auckland
Council has now revealed it wants to upgrade the existing
concert bowl with capacity for thirty thousand people, while also
retaining the Pontsibi Rugby Club. There'll be a vote by
the end of the month. Brent Ecles is a concert
promoter with Eccles Entertainment and with US. Hi Brent, Hey, Gary,

(00:21):
I'm well, thank you. What do you make of this plan?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Oh, I'm very much involved in this plan. Myself and
Campbell Smith have been talking to counsel about this for
some time. We're very excited about it.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Okay, what do we actually get in this plan?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Well, Western Springs is really only purpose built music venue
in Auckland, and you know, everyone has a great story
about Western Springs. But the thing is that, you know,
we're not trying to compete with the you know, Eaton Park,
which is fifty thousand people, perfect for your for your
big you know, Elton John's or that kind of that

(00:57):
kind of artist. But it's more of a it's more
of a a contemporary kind of idea for around thirty
thousand with the purpose built stage and some VIP infrastructure
put in there that's permanent as well, So it would
be a very economical idea for promoters to use.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
Can we really get away with it for two and
a half million dollars to rapeos?

Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yes?

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Are you sure?

Speaker 3 (01:21):
Because two and a.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
Half million dollars in Wellington only bought them six toilets.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Oh, I don't know. I have no idea what that's about.
But I think we have a much better line on this.
Myself and Campbell have a lot of experience in the
music business and concerts, and I think we can very
easily put some facilities in there or develop some some
ideas that are already basically there to make it more economical.
So I'm happy about that. We work on this for
quite some time now, and I think having the stage

(01:48):
in there permanently also makes it very attractive.

Speaker 1 (01:50):
And why is this better than what we were going
to get from the billionaires the purpose built stadium?

Speaker 2 (01:57):
Well, they're going to They're going to pull it down
and put a soccer thing in there the day. I
don't know. I think I think I think a contemporary
music beating was better than a soccer stadium. I don't know.
That's not my game, my game's concert, So I can
see some real value on this brilliant britent.

Speaker 1 (02:12):
Thank you very much, always appreciate your time.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
Mate.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
This is Brent Eccholes, who is a concert promoter.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
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