Fans not Eding to Croker gigs Sheeran Irish tour is reason big concerts not selling out
Ed Sheeran at Croke Park ELECTRIC Picnic boss Melvin Benn thinks Ed Sheeran’s Irish tour is the reason why none of this year’s Croke Park gigs sold out.
The GAA stadium hosted four concerts – two shows by Taylor Swift, one by The Rolling Stones and one by Michael Buble.
None of the acts sold out the 80,000 capacity venue, which was a shock for Benn, pictured right.
He said: “I guess I was surprised a little bit – they’re great acts.
“Maybe it was slightly the wrong time, I’m not sure. I’m sure they’ll come back bigger and stronger, both of those acts.”
The Festival Republic director added he believes Ed Sheeran’s nine Irish shows “took a lot of money out of the market”.
He said: “It’s really tough to know to be fair.
“There has been a lot in Ireland this year and maybe that’s been a factor.
“Some of the acts have been more than once.
“Ed Sheeran took a lot of money out of the market.
“It would be difficult to find someone in Ireland who didn’t go to see Ed.
“I still think if you’ve got the right product at the right price it will work.
“There’s going to be more and more concerts because musicians are depending on their live performances for their income more and more as royalties are disappearing from record sales.” Meanwhile, Benn revealed
YESTERDAY
preparations are already under way for this year’s Electric Picnic which will be headlined by Kendrick Lamar, Dua Lipa and Massive Attack.
Tickets for the 55,000-capacity festival, which takes place in Stradbally, Co Laois, from August 31 to September 2, sold out shortly after going on sale. Benn said: “The teams are already on site, they’ve already started.
“There’s a lot of time and effort that goes into the Picnic, it’s not something that we rush to get built.
“The teams get there early and put a little labour of love into it.”
He was speaking yesterday at the launch of The Banquet at Electric Picnic, which will see celebrity chefs Derry Clarke and Clodagh Mckenna put on a gastronomic feast to raise funds for charity.
Tickets are priced at €120, with all the proceeds going to Temple Street and Pieta House.
Derry Clarke said: “Electric Picnic is an iconic event I look forward to and this year I am delighted to be heading up the Fine Dining Experience thanks to Melvin Benn, Festival Republic and Tesco Finest Range.
“Proceeds for this sold-out venue within are being split between Pieta House, which is very close to me heart, and Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Both are such worthy causes.”
It’s tough to know but Ed Sheeran took a lot of money out of the market MELVIN BENN
Derry Clarke and Clodagh Mckenna at launch yesterday