Live at the Marquee set to bring €40m boost to Cork

The Live at the Marquee festival is set to deliver a €40m boost to the Cork region writes Kevin O’Neill.

Promoter Peter Aiken, who has run the festival for the last 11 years, estimates that almost 80,000 people will attend the music series this year, with 22 shows scheduled between June 7 and July 13.

With the first gig just days away, city hotels are booked out on many of the nights, with all sectors set to benefit.

Mr Aiken said: “When we did Elton John in Thomond Park in Limerick, we attracted 20,000 people. Local firms estimated it was worth €10m to the local economy. For the Marquee, we have 80,000 people — it could be worth as much as €40m.

“You try booking a hotel on some of the nights, even midweek — it’s impossible.” He said that in addition to sold-out shows for Walking On Cars, Little Mix and The Coronas, there are very positive sales for a number of the other acts.

“Gavin James is on the verge of selling out, Don Henley has sold very well and The Coronas are set to sell out two shows. It is great to see them back in Cork and now able to sell 10,000 tickets over two nights. Nathan Carter is close to selling out.”

Tickets are moving fast for a number of other dates, with fans travelling from as far as Boston in the US to catch a glimpse of their favourite bands.

The 80,000 revellers attending the Marquee series will push the total attendance at the summer festival since 2005 to 1.3 million.

This article first appeared in the url= http://www.eveningecho.ie/]Evening Echo.[/url]