New data shows that spending on dining and entertainment in Greater Geelong increased by 26 per cent – or $1.3 million – on the night of the ground-breaking Foo Fighters concert.
Data from Spendmapp shows that spending on dining and entertainment increased by 26 per cent or $1.3 million on the day of the concert (Friday 4 March) – compared to the previous Friday. Travel related spending increased by 10 per cent.
The return of stadium rock to Victoria after two years of COVID-19 lockdowns provided a historic boost for Geelong’s night-time economy, which refers to activities that take place between 6pm and 6am.
Spendmapp data shows most of the spending was driven by fans travelling to Geelong, with visitor spending in the suburbs of Geelong and South Geelong increasing by 75 per cent ($1 million) on the day of the Foo Fighters concert.
The Foo Fighters were brought to Geelong thanks to the Victorian Government’s ALWAYS LIVE program, which is the biggest program of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
The City is working with event organisers to ensure there’s plenty of other major events coming up to help the industry recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The return of White Night Geelong in October will kick-off a bumper month of major events, including the T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup and the return of local family favourites the Royal Geelong Show and the Geelong Cup.
White Night will be held on Saturday, 8 October 2022, while the T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup will bring thousands of visitors to Greater Geelong for a celebration of cricket, culture and community from 16 October 2022.
