It feels like we have been waiting forever for Elton John to get to New Zealand, and finally his Kiwi concert dates are upon us!
His first stop on the New Zealand leg on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is in Dunedin under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium - and it's fair to say a lot of Mainlanders are very excited for the show!
Below are all the details you need to know if you are heading along to Elton John in Dunedin.
What time do gates open?
Gates open from 5pm.
Who is the opening act?
The opening act is Tate Sheridan and he is expected on stage at 6:30pm.
Tate Sheridan is an Australian artist, and caught Elton John's eye back in 2015 when he asked the then 23-year-old to open select Aussie and Kiwi dates on his tour.
Ticketing
It is important to note there are no pass-outs. This means once you are in the venue you cannot go out and come back in.
If you selected Venue Pickup as your delivery method and have not yet collected your tickets, you can pick them up from a Ticketmaster Outlet prior to the day of the concert.
If you cannot collect your tickets until the day of the concert, the ticket office in the University Plaza car park off Anzac Avenue (closest to Gate A) will be open from 12 noon.
If you have selected 'Print-at-Home' as your ticket delivery method, please ensure your tickets have been pre-printed prior to arrival. No ticket – no entry.
If children under the age of 13 are in attendance they must be accompanied by a supervising parent or guardian.
Getting there & Parking
Forsyth Barr Stadium is located at 130 Anzac Ave.
Forsyth Barr Stadium is an easy 20-minute walk from the Octagon and there will be free shuttle buses running from the city centre.
Shuttles:
Free shuttles for concert goers will run from outside the Dunedin Public Library on Moray Place every 5 minutes from 5pm – 6.30pm. This free shuttle service will return to the city centre from Harbour Terrace immediately after the concert.
Buses:
There are regular bus services from the city centre to the Albany/Forth Street area. To check timetables go to www.orc.govt.nz.
Parking:
If you are planning on bringing a car, please know there is limited parking available around the stadium. There will be parking restrictions in place from 2pm too.
Parking at the Stadium in the East End car park is only for Forsyth Barr Stadium Members with permits.
There is a walkway linking the wharf area from Wickliffe Street near the corner of Fryatt Street to Forsyth Barr Stadium. There is free car parking around this area.
Mobility Parking:
There are seven mobility spaces available in the East End car park, accessible via State Highway 88 for valid mobility parking permit holders. Additional mobility spaces are available on Logan Park Drive. You can also drop-off at the Stadium near Gate D. If needed, buggy transport is available to get you to your gate - just ask the closest security guard.
E-Scooter Parking:
If you plan to use an E-Scooter to get to the Stadium, please use the designated parking area on Union Street East.
Security:
There will be bag searches on entry into the venue. Bags larger than the size of a piece of A4 paper (21cm × 29cm) are not permitted.
Food and drink cannot be brought into the venue with the exception of:
- Bottles of water, up to 1 litre, with seals unbroken - all lids will be removed from water bottles at the entrance Gates. Lids will also be removed from plastic bottles purchased within the Stadium.
- Homemade food - such as sandwiches, cakes, fruit.
- Special foods for dietary requirements.
Food and drink can be purchased from the outlets inside the Stadium.
Items not permitted include:
- Any type of camera with a detached, or extended lens regardless of size
- Audio/visual recorders (not including mobile phones)
- Ipads, tablets and GoPros
- Glass – this includes perfume bottles
- Signs and Banners with poles
For full details on what can and can’t be brought into the Stadium click here.
General rules for inside the stadium
Despite how much Elton's music may inspire you to get up and dance all over the place, Forsyth Barr wishes to remind you that there is no dancing or standing in the aisles. These must be kept clear and free-flowing at all times.
They also ask to please remember to pick up your rubbish and recycling on the way out of the concert and place them in the bins that are scattered around the stadium.
It's also recommended to bring a jacket with you for later on in the evening as the temperature inside the Stadium is usually only one or two degrees different to the outside temperature so it can get cold at night.
Merchandise
There will be several merch stores dotted around the stadium.
Safety and Assistance
Forsyth Barr Stadium is a safety conscious venue, if you have any issues or concerns throughout the concert, please find a Stadium staff member who will assist you. You may also text ASSIST to 5256 followed by your location and details of your issue for assistance during the concert.
What other Kiwi dates is Elton playing?
Below are all Elton John's Kiwi concert dates.
- 04/02/10: Dunedin, Forsyth Barr Stadium
- 06/02/20: Hawke's Bay, Mission Estate Winery
- 15/02/20: Hawke's Bay, Mission Estate Winery
- 16/02/20: Auckland, Mt Smart Stadium
- 18/02/20: Auckland, Mt Smart Stadium
- 20/02/20: Auckland, Mt Smart Stadium
