11 Apr 2017

Share this story

Christchurch is again becoming a drawcard for big events with Vbase reporting an action-packed start to 2017.

Vbase, the Council-owned company that manages venues, events and retail hospitality across five venues including Horncastle Arena and AMI Stadium, said it had been a huge first quarter for the year.

Vbase General Manager Darren Burden said Christchurch was consistently pulling in bigger name acts, and appeared to be back on its feet following the post-earthquake recovery period.

In the sports realm, the BlackCaps shared their summer schedule at Hagley Oval with two One Day Internationals and a test. The 2017 seasons have now also begun for both the Crusaders at AMI Stadium and the Tactix netball team with five home games at Horncastle Arena.

The crowd at the Bruce Springsteen concert at AMI Stadium.

Big name acts like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have helped make 2017 a bumper entertainment year for Christchurch.

“Horncastle Arena was undergoing annual maintenance in January but the other venues have been consistently busy,” Mr Burden said. “Concerts have included the Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at AMI Stadium on February 21 with a crowd of over 30,000, Simple Minds and the B-52s, The Pixies, and Don Henley as well as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.”

Mr Burden said the city was clearly hungry for big events and turning out in big numbers to support big acts when they came to town.

“We’re definitely seeing that Cantabs have a real affinity for events at the moment and fortunately we have so many great ones on the cards over the next few months. If you’re looking for an excuse to dress up this Easter and have a dance, Cyndi Lauper and Blondie will be rocking Horncastle Arena on April 15, while the younger ones can have a blast with the stars of the Disney Channel show The Next Step at the Arena later in April,” Mr Burden said.

Big name acts booked for later this year include Aussie rockers Midnight Oil on September 11, a feast of wrestling at WWE Live on September 13 and the legendary Cat Stevens on December 19.

There will also be plenty of flashbacks for some in June as the I Love the 90's tour brings artists such as Vanilla Ice and Salt'n'Pepa to the Horncastle Arena.

Other big events on the horizon include the Food Show from April 7, the Christchurch Art Show from June 16 and the annual Cancer Society Ball on June 24. For sports fan, a highlight of the year will be the Crusaders' special match against the Lions on June 10.

Find out what is coming up at Vbase.