Fender gigs gave city £16.5m boost, figures claim
PA MediaSam Fender's trio of homecoming concerts at St James' Park boosted the local economy by £16.5m, business groups have claimed.
About 150,000 fans flocked to see the North Shields singer-songwriter play three sold-out gigs at the home of Newcastle United in June.
The shows brought in extra revenue for bars, restaurants and hotels according to figures released by investment agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI).
Ian Thomas, NGI's chief operating officer, said while it was "fantastic" to see every corner of the city "bustling", businesses were still facing challenges.
He said the organisation would look to "attract more large-scale events" to the city and "ensure the impact of these events is felt long after the final encore", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
There have been a number of bar and restaurant closures in Newcastle over recent months, including venues such as Leila Lily's, Prohibition, the Earl of Pitt Street and Horticulture, with businesses blaming high energy costs, rent rises, and increased National Insurance contributions.
PA MediaAbdul Samad, Newcastle City Council's cabinet member for culture, said the Sam Fender gigs were a "very welcome boost to our hospitality trade" during challenging times.
The gigs between 12 June and 15 June marked the Seventeen Going Under singer's return to St James' Park following two huge shows in summer 2023, and were part of his People Watching tour.
The £16.5m boost is based on NGI data gathered from visitor and supply chain spend, generated via visitor surveys, hotel occupancy data, average room rates and spending in retail, restaurants and pubs.
Stephen Patterson, CEO business development firm NE1 Ltd, said: "Sam is a local hero with a worldwide fan base, and the concerts turned the spotlight on the city and created boom time for Newcastle."