Elton John tour attracts record crowds for North Queensland

Sir Elton John’s Once in a Lifetime Tour is set to attract a record-breaking 40,000 fans in Mackay and Cairns later this year.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the concerts at Mackay’s BB Print Stadium and Cairns’ Cazaly’s Stadium would be the biggest ever.

“It’s so exciting for regional Queensland to host Sir Elton John,” the Premier said.

“We secured these events for Mackay and Cairns because we knew they had such great potential to bring visitors to the region.

“They will be the biggest events, of any kind, hosted in either stadium’s history, with nearly 15,000 people expected to attend Mackay and Cairns on track to reach 25,000, nearly double its previously recorded capacity of 13,500 at the Cowboys versus Panthers in 2001.

“We know how important major events like the Sir Elton John Once in a Lifetime Tour is to regional Queensland.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the concerts were secured through a partnership between the Mackay and Cairns councils and Tourism and Events Queensland.

“We have grown our events calendar to an asset worth more than $600 million to the state helping drive visitation, creating economic benefits for the regions and supporting local jobs.

“These events will also highlight regional Queensland’s capacity to host world-class concerts and showcase our unique tourism experiences on offer in Mackay and Cairns to the thousands of Elton fans.” 

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the Once in a Lifetime Tour would benefit both the city of Cairns and the region for many years to come.

“It is exciting to hear Sir Elton John’s performance will now be played out in front of a massive crowd of 25,000,” Cr Manning said.

“This will be the largest single ticketed music event hosted in the region. As a city, it showcases our ability to host world class events, and as a region, it will deliver outstanding national and international exposure and ongoing economic benefits.”   

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the region plans to roll out the red carpet to welcome Sir Elton John and the thousands of fans coming to the region for the concert of a lifetime.

“We are incredibly excited,” he said

“This concert provides a wonderful platform to promote the region’s liveability and hospitality to thousands of visitors.” Cr Williamson said.

Chugg Entertainment Executive Chairman, Michael Chugg said Sir Elton John was the first artist in history to include a regional stadium as part of an Australian tour when he played Townsville’s Dairy Farmers Stadium in 2007 and this year had made history again – choosing regional stadiums over capital cities.

“Sir Elton John’s two North Queensland concerts have become record-breaking, history-making successes beyond expectations,” Mr Chugg said.

“Queensland’s coup was in securing not one, but two, of these special limited-edition events – including the start of the exclusive series in Mackay on September 22.”

“Having the right venues was obviously where we had to start; but after that, the support of Tourism and Events Queensland, local councils and media partners, all helped get Cairns and Mackay over the line.

“We knew we needed that. It had to be about community. About getting everyone involved.  About being local. And the strategy worked.” 

Chugg Entertainment will continue to work with Elton’s production team to sell every available ticket, and people are encouraged to check moshtix.com.au for final release tickets as they come to hand, with limited edition Triple M Club House tickets on sale for Mackay this Tuesday from 9 am at moshtix.com.au

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Premier's office) 0417 263 791