Latest news with #DunedinVenues
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin misses out on festival, eyes other events
Hamilton is the new host of the Homegrown festival. PHOTO: SUPPLIED While Dunedin may have narrowly missed out on securing a major music festival, the man in charge of the city's stadium says it is not the only event in its sights. Organisers announced yesterday Hamilton had been selected as the new home of the Jim Beam Homegrown music festival - with Dunedin singled out as a close second choice. Dunedin Venues chief executive Paul Doorn. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH The annual festival has been held on Wellington's waterfront since 2008. Homegrown Events Ltd managing director Andrew Tuck said yesterday the proposal to move the event to Dunedin ''held firm and was in our final top two until the bitter end''. The decision came down to geography and making the music festival accessible to those who planned on travelling, he said. But Dunedin had potential that was yet to be unlocked, and further discussions were to be held with Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) about bringing a unique and regular music event to the city. These talks could happen within the next 12 months, Mr Tuck said. DVML chief executive Paul Doorn said it was disappointing Hamilton ''pipped us at the post'', but was pleased with the feedback they had received from the entertainment provider. The organisation had worked closely with the Dunedin City Council to make both the proposal and the Forsyth Barr Stadium precinct ''as compelling as we possibly can''. ''I thought we really offered up a compelling argument. Obviously Hamilton's done something similar and they've got the gig.'' Mr Doorn said DVML had already identified music festivals as ''a bit of a gap'' for Dunedin and it was working with promoters to explore what a music festival similar to Homegrown could look like in the city - among other concepts.
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin misses out on festival
Hamilton is the new host of the Homegrown festival. PHOTO: SUPPLIED While Dunedin may have narrowly missed out on securing a major music festival, the man in charge of the city's stadium says it is not the only event in its sights. Organisers announced yesterday Hamilton had been selected as the new home of the Jim Beam Homegrown music festival - with Dunedin singled out as a close second choice. Dunedin Venues chief executive Paul Doorn. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH The annual festival has been held on Wellington's waterfront since 2008. Homegrown Events Ltd managing director Andrew Tuck said yesterday the proposal to move the event to Dunedin ''held firm and was in our final top two until the bitter end''. The decision came down to geography and making the music festival accessible to those who planned on travelling, he said. But Dunedin had potential that was yet to be unlocked, and further discussions were to be held with Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) about bringing a unique and regular music event to the city. These talks could happen within the next 12 months, Mr Tuck said. DVML chief executive Paul Doorn said it was disappointing Hamilton ''pipped us at the post'', but was pleased with the feedback they had received from the entertainment provider. The organisation had worked closely with the Dunedin City Council to make both the proposal and the Forsyth Barr Stadium precinct ''as compelling as we possibly can''. ''I thought we really offered up a compelling argument. Obviously Hamilton's done something similar and they've got the gig.'' Mr Doorn said DVML had already identified music festivals as ''a bit of a gap'' for Dunedin and it was working with promoters to explore what a music festival similar to Homegrown could look like in the city - among other concepts.
Otago Daily Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin narrowly misses out on major festival
Dunedin has missed out on bringing Homegrown festival to the city next year. PHOTO: SUPPLIED. Dunedin has fallen at the final hurdle in its bid to host a major music festival at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The city made it to the final two before losing out to Hamilton for the right to stage the multi-stage, all-New Zealand-acts festival previously held on the Wellington waterfront. Festival organisers now say they would like to bring another event to the city in the future. Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) chief executive Paul Doorn was "disappointed" the city was not selected as the event's next long-term home. "The Dunedin proposal showcased the benefits of hosting a music festival in and around the Forsyth Barr Stadium precinct – a space which provides ideal conditions for a music festival such as Homegrown. "With a strong base of festivalgoers, including thousands of students and music lovers, Dunedin remains an exciting place to host a large-scale high-energy festival, and Dunedin Venues will continue to work towards achieving this goal." Homegrown director Andrew Tuck said nine venues were in the running to host the festival and Dunedin just missed out. "We considered everything: geography, population, demographics, transport, flights, and accommodation. "Throughout this process, the Dunedin proposal held firm and was in our final top two until the bitter end." The process established Dunedin "as a city we would like to bring an event to". "Throughout the process, the Dunedin Venues team were really great to deal with, and we hope to work with them in the future." DVML's bid for Homegrown came at a transitional period — Christchurch's $683 million covered stadium Te Kaha will open next year, posing a direct threat to Forsyth Barr Stadium for concerts and events. - APL
Otago Daily Times
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Hot Wheels fans 'furious' over seating changes
Furious fans say seating changes for the Hot Wheels Dunedin show have split up family groups and ruined their view. The event's promoters say people had to be moved for safety reasons and they are doing their best to accommodate everyone. However, several ticket-holders in the premium section have told the Otago Daily Times about their displeasure at their seating arrangements being changed without warning. Broghan van Aalst said it was particularly annoying as it meant her party's booking of 16 people had to be split up. "They haven't even left it so we can sit with our own families. "I am furious, to say the least." Tickets have already sold out for the September 20 show at Forsyth Barr Stadium and are well on the way to selling out for September 21. She said she felt treated badly by the Hot Wheels organisation. "We will go because we've spent so much money on it — it's just not going to be what we've lined it up for the kids to be." She said she found out about the changed seating nearly three weeks after booking the tickets. "If there was some sort of apology and explanations of why, it might have been more easy to take on." Other people have expressed similar concerns on social media. Dunedin woman Sheila Patterson said she was informed of the changes just before 6pm on Thursday. "It gave me no time to call up and query the situation. "We have been moved from the middle of the third row from the front to 13 rows back and off to the side — it's extremely disappointing." She understood there might have been health and safety reasons for the move. "But there has been a real miscommunication ... the situation should've been avoided and could've been avoided." She said those affected should get some form of compensation. "The poor lady at the stadium has actually had to deal with a whole heap of people and she is going out of her way to try to help people as much as she can. "But at the end of the day, it's still a lot of people that have been put out." A Dunedin Venues spokesman apologised for the situation. "Due to the show's development and to ensure the safety of both the crew and fans, the first 10 rows closest to the stadium pitch in the Speight's Stand for the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Show at Forsyth Barr Stadium on September 20 were no longer accessible to the public. "As a result, patrons with premium tickets in these areas have been reallocated to similar seats within the same premium category. The first row of seating in the new configuration is now row L [not A]. He said all other stands had their first 10 rows removed prior to on-sale, including the second show on September 21. "This is an isolated impact to a selection of patrons." The spokesman said affected patrons were notified on Thursday and offered alternative seats. "While we wish this change could have been communicated earlier, we're pleased to be able to make the necessary adjustments to deliver a safe and exciting event experience for everyone."
Otago Daily Times
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Hot Wheels show seating changes infuriate
Furious fans say seating changes for the Hot Wheels Dunedin show have split up family groups and ruined their view. The event's promoters say people had to be moved for safety reasons and they are doing their best to accommodate everyone. However, several ticket-holders in the premium section have told the Otago Daily Times about their displeasure at their seating arrangements being changed without warning. Broghan van Aalst said it was particularly annoying as it meant her party's booking of 16 people had to be split up. "They haven't even left it so we can sit with our own families. "I am furious, to say the least." Tickets have already sold out for the September 20 show at Forsyth Barr Stadium and are well on the way to selling out for September 21. She said she felt treated badly by the Hot Wheels organisation. "We will go because we've spent so much money on it — it's just not going to be what we've lined it up for the kids to be." She said she found out about the changed seating nearly three weeks after booking the tickets. "If there was some sort of apology and explanations of why, it might have been more easy to take on." Other people have expressed similar concerns on social media. Dunedin woman Sheila Patterson said she was informed of the changes just before 6pm on Thursday. "It gave me no time to call up and query the situation. "We have been moved from the middle of the third row from the front to 13 rows back and off to the side — it's extremely disappointing." She understood there might have been health and safety reasons for the move. "But there has been a real miscommunication ... the situation should've been avoided and could've been avoided." She said those affected should get some form of compensation. "The poor lady at the stadium has actually had to deal with a whole heap of people and she is going out of her way to try to help people as much as she can. "But at the end of the day, it's still a lot of people that have been put out." A Dunedin Venues spokesman apologised for the situation. "Due to the show's development and to ensure the safety of both the crew and fans, the first 10 rows closest to the stadium pitch in the Speight's Stand for the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Show at Forsyth Barr Stadium on September 20 were no longer accessible to the public. "As a result, patrons with premium tickets in these areas have been reallocated to similar seats within the same premium category. The first row of seating in the new configuration is now row L [not A]. He said all other stands had their first 10 rows removed prior to on-sale, including the second show on September 21. "This is an isolated impact to a selection of patrons." The spokesman said affected patrons were notified on Thursday and offered alternative seats. "While we wish this change could have been communicated earlier, we're pleased to be able to make the necessary adjustments to deliver a safe and exciting event experience for everyone."
