Repucon Consulting analyse tourism impact of concerts
In 2024 nearly 200,000 music fans attended a programme of summer concerts at Thomond Park, Limerick and Virgin Media Park, Cork. Repucon Consulting were commissioned to undertake an independent Economic Impact Assessment of the concerts including an assessment of the visitor impact generated in Limerick and Cork. The study builds on the economic impact assessments undertaken on Munster Rugby games in February and November 2024, to demonstrate the year round impact of the stadia and event activity.
Over the weekend of 12th to 14th July more than 73,000 fans attended three concerts at Thomond Park. Over a two-week period from 14th to 29th June more than 122,000 concert goers attended nine concerts at Virgin Media Park.
The combined total economic impact of concerts in Limerick and Cork in 2024 was €25.7 million. Direct expenditure into the Limerick economy by visitors from outside Limerick City and County was €8.4 million. This resulted in a total visitor impact of €12.1 million into the Limerick economy when direct and indirect benefits are account for.
Direct expenditure into the Cork economy by visitors from outside Cork City and County was €3.5 million. This resulted in a total visitor impact of €4.8 million into the Cork economy when direct and indirect benefits are account for.
Concerts at Thomond Park drew a wide domestic and overseas audience. Three-quarters of all those attending concerts at Thomond Park lived outside Limerick City and County. Overseas visitors comprised 4% of all attendees to Thomond Park concerts. There was an average of nearly 1,000 overseas visitors to each of the three concerts in Limerick.
78% of attendees to concerts in Virgin Media Park were from Cork City and County. Seven of the nine concerts in Virgin Media Park were played to capacity audiences illustrating the popularity and demand for such events to residents of the wider Cork area. Concert attendees from Cork City and County contributed €7.4 million in direct expenditure to the Cork economy going to events.
