REGIONAL PROFILES
SOUTHERN EUROPE POPULATION: 62m (IT); 10.8m (PT); 48.6m (ES) INTERNET USERS: 40.5m (IT); 7.4m (PT); 37.9m (ES) GDP/CAPITA: €32,458 (IT); €25,483 (PT); €32,637 (ES) ACTIVE SMARTPHONES: 92.5m (IT); 11.7m (PT); 50.9m (ES)
T
he Italians, Spanish and Portuguese love going to events. Arenas we surveyed reported the highest average attendance and there’s a tangible feeling of optimism in the industry. As the economies of these countries recover, people are going out more and more – even those who are struggling are foregoing other expenditure to enjoy themselves. But the economic growth levels of some other European countries isn’t shared here, and the long, hot summers mean there are long periods when people don’t want to be indoors and arena concerts are not viable. The arenas surveyed hosted a total of 286 events, worth €90million.
REGIONAL MAP n = Italy Portugal & Spain
Attendance
With the largest average attendance (9,434, compared to a survey average of 5,826) these are countries with passionate fans. The majority of events and programmes were music (43%), followed by miscellaneous events such as exhibitions and corporate functions (23%), and family shows (19%). The highest average attendances were for sports events, which drew 12,060 (survey average: 4,662) and family events 10,291 (survey average: 5,157). Music event attendances averaged 8,334 tickets (survey average: 7,359). Comedy shows made up just 2% of programming and were attended by an average 5,620 people per show (survey average: 4,848). Dance productions attracted an average of 7,500 people (4,758). The venues surveyed hosted an average of 32 events in 2016. The average number of music events per venue was 14, followed by seven miscellaneous events, six sporting events, three family shows, and one comedy show. And while they may have the least average number of events, they certainly pull in the crowds, indicating that less is more for this European region. “Ticket sales are booming,” says Roberto de Luca, president of Live Nation Italy, which, as well as promoting concerts, operates two arenas on the former Winter Olympics site in Turin: Palavela (capacity 12,000) and Pala Alpitour (cap. 13,347). “In the period January-July 2016, we sold over 2
“Attendance levels are high here because Spanish people love to party... [and] people from across Europe love to come here and party with us.” Isidro Sevilla, La Nueva Cubierta (ES)
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