Figures released by the Westpac Stadium -- dating from '00-16 -- "show fewer people attending traditional sports events, and substantial increases in the popularity of occasional and one-off events like rock concerts and Beervana," according to Brad Flahive of STUFF. Comparing figures from '06 and '16 "illustrates the shift clearly:" about 301,000 people attended Super and provincial rugby matches, and the annual Sevens, in '06, with 101,000 going to concerts and other events. In '16, that had changed to 160,000 and 250,000 respectively. Further highlighting the "burgeoning taste" for non-sport events, like theater, entertainment and the World of WearableArt, are figures from Venues Wellington -- which include the TSB Bank Arena and Michael Fowler Centre -- showing an increase of about 10,000 each year for the past three years. To "arrest the sports decline, while also wanting to cash in on shifting tastes," the stadium, along with local government, are in talks to "react to punters' demands, and enhance the stadium's pulling power as an all-round venue." Wellington Deputy Mayor Paul Eagle, who oversees the housing, recreation and events portfolio, said that the council had been in discussion with the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency "about what motivated people to attend events." Wellington was not the only city having to look at what people would "prefer to go to in their spare time," as the same pattern was emerging in Auckland and overseas. WREDA GM of Events Warrick Dent said that the "clearest trend in the last 10 years had been the increasing diversity of events from which Wellingtonians could choose." Dent added, "Westpac Stadium is a hugely valuable facility for Wellington. Located alongside transport hubs and in walking distance from major hotels and hospitality districts, it's ideally situated." Westpac Stadium CEO Shane Harmon acknowledged the growth in the popularity of non-sport events at the stadium, saying that "unique and one-off events had proved very attractive." However, the decline in sports attendance was "starting to arrest," but it was an "extremely competitive and global market." Harmon said, "Certainly you may look at individual sports and see declines, but the overall picture is healthy" (STUFF, 2/14).
