Nick Sautner: Eden Park Chief Executive on the boost in funds for large-scale events

Hopes a new events fund will make Auckland an attractive choice for international acts. 

The Government is pumping $40million dollars to secure large scale events from next year - part of a bigger $70million dollar boost.

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner says his dream would be a Spice Girls reunion concert. 

But he told Ryan Bridge any big name will be good for the city. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So the government seventy million dollars supercharged. The events and
tourism funded includes forty million that's ring fence to lure
the likes of Taylor Swift and Coldplays and Pearl Jams
from twenty twenty six. Nixt Saortner is Eden Park CEO.
To react, Nick, good.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Morning, Good morning Ryan, Thanks for your time.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Could you put that money into context? How does it
compare with past funds and our competitors.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, we welcome the PM's announcement yesterday. This is great
news for business. Historically, music content hasn't been available to
attract funding from central government, so it hasn't been available
for us to go out and secure content. Globally, it's
been focused more on the sports and major event content
like World Cup. So this is a paradigm cheft for us.

(00:45):
It makes us competitive with the East Coast of Australia.
Similar funds are available in the likes of Britain and
Sydney and Melbourne, so and we Eden Park is uniquely
positioned now capitalize on this opportunity.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Nick, who's on your wish list?

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well, for me personally, any concert that we've seen at
Eden Park has been magnificent. When you look at Pink Billy, Joel, Coldplay,
Duns and Roses, they've all been phenomenal and already the
local businesses are pumped as you can imagine after COVID
there has been a challenge for the hospitality sector. Only
two weekends ago. You look at what we're able to

(01:20):
deliver with the likes of the sold out all Black
tests at the Fortress. Some of the local businesses said
it was their biggest day ever in terms of hospitality spend.
So this is a great announcement. Since the Rugby World
Cup at Eden Park, we've delivered over a billion dollars
of gendp benefit of Auckland and yeah, we're very excited
with the announcement.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
Can we be realistic and just a really quick question
but if we had this fund, would it have been
enough to get the lights of Pearl Jam and Taylor Swift.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Well, Pearl Jam's previously come the likes of Taylor Swift.
It's a competitive market, but now we are a genuine
player against the East Coast of Australia. So promoters now
know and I can assure you I was in contact
with a number of promoters last night making them aware
that this is available and saying, get your application in,
tell us what you want. We want a city that

(02:08):
people want to live, stay, play and work and artists
can benefit now from this fund.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
You've got any names you want to drop?

Speaker 2 (02:16):
Ah? Well, how good would it be if Spice Gills reformed?

Speaker 1 (02:21):
Next all the Eden Park's CEO. For more from Early
Edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live to news Talks.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
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