REGIONAL PROFILES
UK & IRELAND POPULATION: 65.7m (UK); 5m (IE) INTERNET USERS: 61m (UK); 4m (IE) GDP/CAPITA: $43,600 (UK); $72,600 (IE) ACTIVE SMARTPHONES: 78.5m (UK); 4.9m (IE)
A
s the second largest live music market in Europe, the UK & Ireland is a soughtafter touring destination. Continually demonstrating strong sales, high ticket prices, and event innovation, its position as one of the world’s most popular markets remains strong. Despite political uncertainty over Brexit, it doesn’t appear to have had a significant impact on consumer confidence so far. However, this is a competitive market and arenas have to work hard to maintain their positions. In 2017, the arenas surveyed sold 14.8million tickets to 2,410 events, worth €718.5m.
Attendance
Ticket sales to shows in the UK & Ireland were on average 6,124, compared to a survey average of 6,036. Music topped the charts, with an average attendance of 7,536 (survey music average: 7,327). Comedy was especially strong, pulling an average 7,275 compared to a European average for the genre of 6,490. Family shows averaged 3,257 (3,828), while
REGIONAL MAP n = UK & Ireland
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sports events attracted on average 5,754 (5,471). From one of the most famous venues in the world, the 12,000-capacity SSE Arena Wembley, John Drury says: “2017 was our best year since reopening in 2006, with a good number of full-on arena tours, academysized tours playing an arena date in London, and a wide mix of other event types, formats and capacities.” Key to the 2017 success was a desire to bring in first-time headliners alongside established arena fillers, the venue’s VP and general manager says. The programme included Jack Whitehall, Bob Dylan, and Hans Zimmer, alongside first-time headliners A Day to Remember, Weezer, and Nicky Jam. Also in London, The O2’s general manager John Langford says: “2017 was another record year. We had a great mix of content from music to comedy, entertainment and sport, and our tenth birthday too.” At the 13,600-capacity FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield, general manager Joe Waldron says: “Business was very good, with concerts including The Who, Bruno Mars, Iron Maiden, Take That, Little Mix, and Queen & Adam Lambert.” Arena business continues to be buoyant in Glasgow, says Debbie McWilliams at the SEC, which runs The SSE Hydro (cap. 13,000), SEC Armadillo (3,000), and exhibition space SEC Centre. “The SSE Hydro continues to record high attendee figures, and finished the year at No.4 in the Pollstar rankings and No.1 in the Billboard rankings,” she adds. Lucy Noble, artistic and commercial director at London’s renowned Royal Albert Hall, says the venue had another record-breaking year, with 385 performances on the main stage and 504 in other areas, as well as hundreds of education and outreach events. On the north-west coast of England, Kay Wilson, head of sales – concerts, entertainment and sports – Echo Arena Liverpool, reports “One of our busiest years to date. 2018 is a milestone for us as we celebrate our tenth birthday.” She adds: “Since 2008, we have welcomed 5.4million visitors to more than 1,200 performances.” Across the Irish Sea, Cormac Rennick at Dublin’s 13,000-capacity 3Arena says: “2017 was a great year, with business 20% up in terms of number of shows. The economy here has definitely turned the corner