New Zealand Hard Rock Festival Promoter Blames Easter Laws For Loss

March 25, 2008

Stuff.co.nz reports that New Zealand promoter Phil Sprey is facing a potential $750,000 loss after a shortage of fans at his Wellington metal festival, Rock2Wgtn.

Now he's firing a broadside at Easter trading laws and the police, blaming them for dampening a tourism opportunity.

Rock2Wgtn a lineup of rock acts of yesteryear drew about 50,000 fans to Westpac Stadium over Saturday and Sunday. Mr Sprey was hoping for 4,000 to 5,000 more each night.

Though the dollar figures were not concrete yesterday, he said the outlook was not good.

"We could have lost maybe three-quarters of a million dollars ... which is basically the sort of margin we were hoping to make."

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