Country music superstar Garth Brooks’ concerts are generating unparalleled buzz and fans are set to catch both Edmonton shows – the only one in Canada on his stadium tour that also spans the United States and in Ireland.
Barnie Yerxa is the General Manager of Delta Hotels in South Edmonton and the City Center Mall downtown.
He said as soon as tickets went on sale earlier this year, their hotels immediately started seeing bookings.
“From a normal weekend to a Garth weekend, you could probably say there’s a 150% increase in occupancy at our hotels across the city,” Yerxa said.
“The fact that it’s the only Canadian show, people come from all over (the country).”
Yerxa said it seems people are also making a weekend of their trip.
“We’re definitely seeing people coming on the shoulder nights for this weekend and seeing the extra night on Sunday nights as well.”
Explore Edmonton President and CEO Traci Bednard said all businesses and hotels in the city are expecting to see a boost.
“We see our downtown filling up with visitors and staying in hotels and restaurants, but that can’t provide all the capacity it needs, so it’s a great opportunity to spread to other parts of Edmonton as well” , Bednard said.
Many hotels across Edmonton are full over the weekend, and those that stay have higher than normal rates, Global News observed.
Garth is no stranger to Edmonton: In 2017, he sold out not one — not even two or three — but nine gigs with his wife Trisha Yearwood at Rogers Place.
He kept adding shows, determined to beat the scalpers and make sure as many fans as possible could enjoy themselves. The extravaganza injected approximately $42 million into the local economy.
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Garth Brooks concerts inject $42 million into Edmonton’s economy
Angie Gessner is traveling from Saskatoon to see Garth Brooks in Edmonton this coming weekend.
She first saw it live in 1996, when she was a freshman. She returned to Saskatoon in 2016 and 2019. She couldn’t miss this chance, even if it meant a six-hour drive.
“I just cycled everywhere, saving my money for Garth Brooks, saving it for the beer money – I haven’t put gas in my car for a long time,” Gessner said.
She picks up her sister in Lloydminster and a friend meets them from Calgary. They also planned to visit other areas of the city.
“We’ll probably go to the West Edmonton Mall, take an Ikea trip — we don’t have one,” Gessner said of the Swedish furniture store.
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Garth Brooks set for ‘family reunion’ when he returns to Edmonton in June
But the main appeal of this trip is to create new memories with Garth Brooks.
“Just walking into the building and the first five minutes they’re so unreal and just the crowd they’re crazy, when he walks onstage your heart goes wild.”
For anyone going to the concert, it’s important to remember that Commonwealth Stadium has a clear bag policy. No purses or clutches that you cannot see through will be permitted.
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Garth Brooks sells out his 2nd Edmonton show in 45 minutes
The City of Edmonton will operate a park and ride to and from the stadium at six locations, as it does during Edmonton Elks games, but it will cost $6 round-trip fare. special event.
All Commonwealth Stadium Park & Ride services begin 2 hours before the start of the event and end once the stadium is cleared after the event.
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