WINTER | FEATURE
The year in focus
As 2023 draws to a close , Access gauges the thoughts of event producers , promoters , venue operators and industry association heads as to how 2023 shaped up and what next year is likely to bring
Words : Christopher Barrett
A-list acts such as Taylor Swift , Beyonce , Ed Sheeran and Coldplay have seen highly priced tickets for their stadium shows sell like hot cakes , and major event promoters and venue operators are enjoying remarkable demand for VIP hospitality packages . Meanwhile operators of huge sports events such as the British Grand Prix are attracting record attendances by embellishing their offerings with live entertainment .
There has been no shortage of highlights this year , not least Liverpool ’ s hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest , the UCI Cycling World Championships in Scotland , and Burna Boy becoming the first African artist to headline a UK stadium .
The appetite for live events has remained strong , and in the first week of July more than 1 million people attended live music shows in London alone , but among the mid-range festival operators and grassroots venues the outlook is not so bright . According to the Music Venue Trust , more than 100 grassroots venues have closed in the last 12 months . Meanwhile , many small to mid-size festivals struggled this year .
Wythenshawe Park , Manchester
Following the postponement of Bluedot Festival after it was battered by winds and rain this year , Superstruct cancelled the 2024 edition of NASS Festival due to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the “ significant increase ” in operational costs .
Venue view At OVO Arena Wembley , its VP & GM John Drury says the north London venue has enjoyed its first “ normal ” year since reopening after the lockdowns and fans have returned in record numbers . Key contributors to that success have been three-show runs by Ricky Gervais and Singaporean singer JJ Lin . Eight nights of boxing certainly helped business , as did shows by first time headliners including Critical Role , Maisie Peters , Melanie
Martinez and Greta Van Fleet . Drury says that at a time when costs have risen and margins shrunk , the industry could and should do more to meet a growing demand for VIP packages : “ The industry ’ s market for premium packages is probably undervalued at the moment and doesn ’ t always reflect the growing
“ The industry ’ s market for premium packages is probably undervalued .”
demand for enhanced experiences . More concentration on a number of premium options can greatly elevate the guest experience , while also keeping the income within the live sector .”
At the Scottish Event Campus ( SEC ) in Glasgow , the team at the OVO Hydro have been celebrating the venue ’ s 10th birthday , and in February the arena hosted its one thousandth show .
Despite the rise in utility , labour and supply chain costs , SEC director of live entertainment Debbie McWilliams says the demand from fans for live
Photo : Jody Hartley
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