Eden Park enlists residents to push Taylor Swift concert bid

Monday, 19 February 2024

Taylor Swift fans sing along to 'Shake It Off' on board a flight from Melbourne to Auckland.

Eden Park says its local residents “overwhelmingly support” a possible Taylor Swift show, despite the ship already having sailed on the star’s New Zealand snub.

A survey released on Monday by Eden Park Trust, which polled 1500 residents in the venue’s area, revealed that 90% supported the stadium hosting up to six artists playing up to 12 shows in a calendar year.

The survey also asked residents if they would specifically support a Taylor Swift show, to which 93% said yes.

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner previously blamed the star omitting NZ from her tour schedule on the venue’s resource consent plan, which in 2020 permitted Eden Park to hold up to six concerts in any 12-month period.

Those spots have so far been taken up by US singer Pink, who will perform March 8 and 9, and UK band Coldplay, performing November 13, 15, and 16.

He told the NZ Herald that although the restrictions were not an issue, promoters often inquired about multiple shows.

The survey also asked residences if they would specifically support a Taylor Swift show, to which 93% said yes.

“Clearly, this wasn't sufficient to host Taylor Swift,” Sautner said, despite Coldplay announcing their tour after Swift.

On Sunday, Swift performed the last of three back-to-back shows at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, bringing in a total crowd of 288,000 people.

The 34-year-old will perform four back-to-back shows at Sydney’s Accor Stadium from Friday.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the MCG each night of the Eras Tour.

Hundreds more gathered outside Melbourne’s MCG each night of the Eras Tour in the hopes of hearing Swift’s performance.

This isn’t the first time Eden Park has pushed for Swift to bring her Eras Tour to New Zealand, specifically to their arena, the biggest in the country with a concert seating capacity of up to 60,000.

Sautner previously told Stuff he had tried to enlist the help of former prime minister Jacinda Ardern in convincing Swift to bring her tour to New Zealand, as they are “two powerful women on the world stage.”

“I believe that your reaching out could potentially influence her current decision process,” his email said.

“Whether that approach is via social media or a letter, I would be extremely appreciative if you could make contact and see if she is willing.”

Sautner did not receive a reply from Ardern.

So far on the Eras Tour, Swift has not played a venue with a capacity lower than 55,000 - the exception being her upcoming shows at France’s Paris La Défense Arena, Europe’s largest indoor arena which seats 40,000, where she will perform four shows back-to-back.

The smallest country Swift will perform in on the Eras Tour is the Republic of Ireland, with a population of 5.03 million, more than a hundred thousand fewer people than New Zealand - though the entire island contains 7 million people.

Swift is performing three shows in the country’s Aviva Stadium, capable of hosting 51,700 people.