This summer’s Western Springs Stadium concert schedule of back-to-back record-breaking shows boosted economic activity by $10 million in the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland region. 

Laneway Festival on 5 February was the biggest New Zealand edition of the festival ever, with a crowd of more than 36,000 enjoying a line-up filled with international superstars, local heroes and upcoming favourites. 

Auckland was the only New Zealand stop for the touring festival, making it a magnet for music lovers from all over Aotearoa, and beyond. Almost half of all attendees travelled from outside Tāmaki Makaurau, generating an estimated 49,680 visitor nights with visitors spending an average of $470 during their stay. 

Laneway was held on the Thursday before Waitangi Day for the first time. Visitors arrived for the all-day festival but stayed for the weekend, with an average stay of 2.83 nights each. 

November’s sellout Rufus Du Sol show, delivered by Live Nation, was the biggest concert ever on The Outer Fields at Western Springs, with huge demand seeing more than 25,000 tickets sold. 

The Rufus Du Sol concert also proved to be a major attraction to the region, with 36 per cent of ticket buyers travelling from outside of Auckland. This delivered an estimated 18,689 visitor nights, with each visitor spending an average of $552 during their stay. 

Major impact

Nick Hill, Chief Executive at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, says the record-breaking summer season highlights the importance of the historic Western Springs Stadium to the region. 

“This summer shows what concerts held at Western Springs Stadium deliver for Tāmaki Makaurau. Hosting globally recognised artists and major festivals drives real economic benefit for our region, supports local jobs and businesses, and strengthens Auckland’s reputation as a premier live music destination. The economic impact is significant, but so too is the cultural energy these events create for our communities. 

“When two major events can generate this level of activity, it highlights the opportunity in a more consistent summer programme. With the right infrastructure, Western Springs can complement Auckland’s wider stadium network to deliver even greater economic and cultural benefit for our region,” says Nick Hill. 

Jessie Parker, Festival Director of Laneway Festival is proud of the continued growth of the festival in New Zealand. 

“Laneway 2026 was our biggest year yet in Aotearoa. After more than a decade of the festival in New Zealand, it’s incredible to see it continue to grow as a staple of the summer live music calendar. Western Springs provided the perfect setting for a huge night of music led by Chappell Roan, and we’re already excited to return in 2027,” says Jessie Parker. 

Mark Kneebone, Managing Director of Live Nation, says Auckland continues to be a key touring destination for international artists. 

“These sellout results demonstrate the appetite for world-class live music in this market, and we look forward to bringing more major acts to the region in summers to come,” says Mark Kneebone. 

Future plans

A headline show from American performer Jelly Roll was set to open the summer event season at Western Springs on 8 November but was cancelled due to artist illness, with thousands of tickets already sold – highlighting strong international demand for an outdoor venue of this style and scale in Tāmaki Makaurau.   

The impressive summer return from just two concerts demonstrates the important role Western Springs Stadium plays as a regional facility for sports, festivals, concerts and other events, and its potential for development. 

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) has been considering the long-term future of Western Springs Stadium, with an open expression of interest (EOI) process in 2024 followed by public consultation in 2025.  

TAU recently recommended that Auckland Council’s Governing Body approve a development of the “Western Springs Bowl” concept, first proposed as part of the EOI. That decision is set to be made at the end of this month.