Things to do  |  21 Jan 2019

Vbase is gearing up for a busy start to the year at its Christchurch venues as it hosts several high-profile sporting clashes and international acts, including the legendary singer Phil Collins.

Phil Collins

Phil Collins is performing at Christchurch Stadium on 4 February.

Phil Collins is performing at Christchurch Stadium on 4 February as part of his I'm Not Dead Yet tour.

“Phil Collins is only performing two concerts in New Zealand and he is an artist that is loved by all generations and we’re expecting at least 25,000 people will attend the concert,’’ says Vbase General Manager Chris Mintern.

“Many of these people will be from out-of-town which we anticipate will result in an extra $2.4 million of spending across retail and hospitality in the city so it is going to be a really positive event for Christchurch,’’

Another international artist attracting people from across the South Island is British rocker Ozzy Osbourne when he presents his Farewell Tour at Horncastle Arena in March.

Nitro Circus’s jaw-dropping sports action show at Christchurch Stadium and a test match at Hagley Oval between the Black Caps and Bangladesh add more large events to Vbase’s hosting calendar in March.

Hagley Oval will also be the venue of one day international between the Black Caps and Bangladesh on 16 February and the inaugural Black Clash T20 match on 25 January where some of the biggest names in New Zealand cricket will take on some of the biggest names in New Zealand rugby.

“There’s going to be lots of great sporting action for fans to enjoy at Hagley Oval and, of course, February heralds the start of the Super Rugby competition with the BNZ Crusaders set to play their first home game at Christchurch Stadium on 23 February’’ Mr Mintern says.

The other big event on Vbase’s calendar is the re-opening of Christchurch Town Hall.

Vbase are looking forward to welcoming the city back to the iconic venue and to start hosting events there again, beginning with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Shapeshifter concert in the Douglas Lilburn Auditorium on 1 March.

“This is a really special venue, not only to us but to the entire community, and following its extensive refurbishment the reopening has generated significant interest from concert promoters and event organisers.’’ Mr Mintern says

“We are very excited that the acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma has chosen to play his first and only New Zealand concert in the Town Hall in November,'' says Vbase’s Ticketing Manager Turlough Carolan.

Vbase and the city's economic development and promotion agency, ChristchurchNZ, spent months working behind the scenes to secure the concert for Christchurch.

“Yo-Yo Ma is is a super-star in the classical musical world. He’ll be visiting 36 cities across six continents as part of his two year global Bach journey and we were really keen to make sure that Christchurch was one of those 36 cities,’’ says Mr Carolan. “We saw it as a fantastic opportunity to attract visitors to our city and to showcase our restored Town Hall and its world-renowned acoustics.’’