Civic leaders have welcomed the announcement that Take That will perform for a second night in Southampton - hailing it as a “real boost” for the city.
Conservative MP for Southampton Itchen, Royston Smith, said the concert will "put the city on the map regionally and nationally" while the leader of Southampton City Council, Satvir Kaur, said events like this "bring our city to life".
It comes after Southampton FC CEO Phil Parsons hinted at making more use of St Mary's for events and gigs to increase revenue.
Initially, the iconic pop group announced only one date at St Mary's - June 1, 2024 - as part of This Life On Tour.
However, when tickets went on sale on Friday morning, they sold out within an hour resulting in the band announcing a second performance the following night.
READ MORE: Take That at St Mary's - In pictures
Reacting to the news, Cllr Kaur said: “There is always something happening in Southampton, from major sporting to music events.
“It’s great that Take That have decided to extend their stay in our great city. Events like these bring our city to life and contribute millions into the local economy.”
MP Royston Smith said: “These events are fantastic for the city. Not only do they put Southampton on the map regionally and nationally, but they are a real boost to the local economy.
“We are really lucky to have the football club and I am pleased they intend to bring even more of these excellent, high-profile concerts and performers to the city.”
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Southampton FC CEO Phil Parsons said the club was looking to drive more revenue from its stadium.
He said: “The commercial team have done a great job with getting some short-term wins and making the most of it.
“The second focus is that we have a stadium, it’s ours and we own it, that we need to drive more revenue from. The (Take That) concert being announced is one of that.
“We will also be looking at how we operate our hospitality at the stadium, it’s a quick win and we can do a lot more with it.”
This Life on Tour will see the trio - Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald - be joined by special guest Olly Murs as they travel throughout the country.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel