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Auckland’s Spark Arena has advised that 2023 was its biggest year since opening in 2007, with more than 655,000 fans attending New Zealand’s largest arena and its neighbouring club venue, The Tuning Fork.

Breaking the previous record achieved in 2018 with 619,000 attendees, the new achievement equates to 41% of Auckland’s population attending an event at Spark Arena - 13% of the national population.

2023 saw the venue welcomed some of the entertainment’s biggest stars including Dave Chappelle, 50 Cent, Lizzo and Paramore. History was made with the largest country shows ever in New Zealand with sold out shows by country superstars Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs, and record audiences turned out for the first major performances by K-Pop group P1Harmony, Taiwanese mando-pop legend, Jonathan Lee and Punjabi global superstar Diljit Dosanjh.

Spark Arena also played host to the world’s first arena staging of Hamilton, The Musical, Cirque du Soleil, and Disney on Ice and while remaining the home-base of basketball’s BNZ Breakers and a trusted gala and corporate events centre.

Commenting on the attendance record, Spark Arena General Manager, Mark Gosling stated “2023 was a big year for our dedicated and skilled team who have worked around the clock to deliver a wide range of events for Kiwis at the highest level.

“In any one week, our team transforms the arena from a basketball court, to an ice rink, university graduation and major arena concerts spanning multiple genres - highlighting the diversity of content we can pull off.

“It is fantastic to see New Zealanders really get behind events and we are proud our venue brings significant social and economic value to communities as the gateway of entertainment for the country.”

Increased capacity
More fans will be able to enjoy shows at Spark Arena this year, with the venue having increased its capacity from 12,000 to 13,280 - completing work that has been underway since 2018. 

Commenting on even more fans being able to enjoy shows at the venue, Gosling noted “this will mean more tickets will be available to fans that otherwise might miss out and it will also be beneficial for Spark Arena and promoters to attract even more world-class talent and the globe’s biggest acts to Aotearoa.”

With more events to be announced, 2024 is on track to be just as big as 2023 with artists including Macklemore, Brooke Fraser, Tate Mcrae, Jerry Seinfeld, Iron Maiden, and even The Wiggles already in the events calendar. In March and April, Spark Arena has welcomed international superstars Jonas Brothers, Queens of the Stone Age, three sold-out shows with R&B singer SZA and broke all-time nightly attendance records with both Blink 182 and Fred Again. 

Spark Arena will also play host to the World Choir Games this July featuring around 250 choirs from more than 30 countries.

In addition to Spark Arena, the Live Nation Venue Nation division in Australia and New Zealand oversees the Tuning Fork in Auckland, San Fran in Wellington as well as the Palais Theatre and Festival Hall in Melbourne, Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul, NSW and the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, and Hindley Street Music Hall in Adelaide. 

Image credit: Spark Arena.

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