It’s estimated 37,000 fans will descend on Dunedin for Pink’s return to New Zealand - but fans have been battling the southern weather and accommodation woes ahead of the sold-out concert. (Source: 1News)
It’s estimated 37,000 fans are descending on Dunedin today for Pink’s return to New Zealand - but fans have been battling the southern weather and accommodation woes ahead of the sold-out concert.
People started lining up at the gates of Forsyth Barr Stadium from 11am to get a front row viewing tonight, despite unseasonably cold conditions. It was just 10C in the city mid-afternoon with gales forecast.
The American pop star will debut her worldwide Summer Carnival tour at the stadium but Pink-mania has been overshadowed by accommodation dilemma in the southern city. Finding a bed in Dunedin tonight is all but impossible.
Mayor Jules Radich said it has been an ongoing issue for some time.
“We're keen to have more accommodation in the town. The city council is not going to build it, but we'd like to help facilitate it, we'd like to help encourage it."
Some fans are paying as much as $1000 a night through Airnbnb and other rental sites. The council has tried to help ease the demand by offering a temporary caravan site for fans to stay at.
The American singer's career has spanned 25 years and 60 million album sales. (Source: 1News)
“It would naturally be better if there was more accommodation, but the issue is having consistency of clients and having a consistency of guests,” said Radich.
Part of that is ensuring acts come to Dunedin. Reports in the build up to Pink's Summer Carnival suggested Forsyth Barr won’t be hosting another act till 2026. But Terry Davies of Dunedin Venues said that’s “ridiculous".
"It's not 18 months, I think that was all blown out proportion," he said. "The landscape is a challenging period because we're in an environment where costs are going up, promoters' margins are shrinking."
But he said: "There's no there's no reason why we would not be getting shows within the 18 months.
"I'm confident we'll get something for next summer and we've got a massive programme. Other cities would be dreaming about getting Pink." He also pointed out the city has an All Blacks test match against England in July.
The Summer Carnival tour moves to Eden Park, Auckland, for two shows on Friday and Saturday before heading to Australia.
More than 3 million tickets have been sold worlwide for the tour, bringing in a staggering $570 million.
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