City pulses with action
It’s a busy few days in the City of Sails, with mega pop star Ed Sheeran serenading fans, Pasifika festival taking over Western Springs park and the cricket stretching over the weekend.
Sheeran’s sold-out Mt Smart Stadium shows are expected to attract 135,000 people over three nights.
Sales for his Divide world tour have outstripped the 128,000 who paid to see Adele last year, breaking records. “We will be expecting 45,000 people at each of the three Auckland shows — a record attendance for Mt Smart Stadium,” a spokeswoman for Frontier Touring said.
“All three Auckland shows are sold out, however it’s possible we may be able to put a small number of production holds on sale. Check ticketmaster.co.nz for availability.”
Auckland Transport urges fans to allow extra time to make it to Penrose.
Travel on trains, the Northern
Express bus and special event buses were included in the ticket price.
The opening act starts at 6.30pm.
The annual Pasifika festival will see Western Springs pumping.
Ateed spokeswoman Melanya Burrows said about 60,000 people were expected to attend the festival over its two-day run.
The event, which showcases Auckland’s Pacific Island cultures and communities with food, crafts and live performances runs rain or shine.
A free Pasifika shuttle service will operate between Carrington Rd, outside Unitec and Western Springs Park.
Free parking is available at Unitec and Pasadena Intermediate School and Western Springs College have $10 cash only paid parking on their school fields as fundraisers.
For people in wheelchairs or with impaired mobility, the easiest place to park or be dropped off is along Motions Rd.
Regular public transport is also an option, with bus and train lines stopping a short walk away. Lines company Vector has a sound and light show on the Auckland Harbour Bridge every night until Tuesday to celebrate Pasifika.
It runs every 30 minutes from 8pm until midnight.
Meanwhile, around the corner at Eden Park, New Zealand’s inaugural pink ball day-night test continues — weather permitting.
Play is scheduled to start at 2pm. Fans can catch the train to Eden Park free with their ticket. Today one child’s ticket will be free with every adult ticket purchased.