Wests Entertainment Group are hoping an accommodation crisis developing in Tamworth won’t threaten ticket sales to the John Farnham headlined Hay Mate, Buy a Bale drought fundraiser at Scully Park next month.
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The concert, which hoped to attract over 10,000 people, has clashed with the Jehovah’s Witness Convention at the TRECC, which brings 5000 visitors to town annually.
On Monday popular online booking site Wotif showed no vacancies, while Trivago had just two rooms remaining in the entire city and surrounds.
Wests Entertainment Group events manager Carolyn Stier confirmed there are still 6000 tickets to the concert remaining, which is also being broadcast live on Channel Nine.
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On Monday she met with representatives from Tamworth Regional Council to discuss the accommodation shortfall.
“Council were talking about opening the AELEC for camping, and possibly even the Pirates rugby ground,” she said.
“Although they need somewhere with facilities, and will have to put a Development Application in.”
A council spokesperson later confirming that they would likely not be able to approve their own application in time, despite the event being eight weeks away.
“Both Council and WEG have received enquiries about the possibility of a pop-up campsite being made available, just like we have for the Country Music Festival.” the spokesperson said.
“Council is currently exploring possible options but understanding that DA consent is generally required for such an activity, and the lead-up time is too short to allow for this.
“If we are successful in finding a solution we will promote it via Wests and our Destination Tamworth site.”
Wests’ CEO Road Laing was only made aware of the clash after the announcement of the concert, and while he said there is “need for concern” he hopes that more accomodation can be sought on the outskirts of town for those travelling more than two hours.
He also hoped to see locals snap up the remaining tickets now, reminding them not to wait and have a repeat of the recent sold-out NRL match, where many missed out.
“It does make it extremely hard for people – we just don’t know if it will affect attendance,” he said.
Meanwhile would-be concert goers are continuing to be stung by scalping sites, such as Viagogo, selling what might be fake tickets at exorbitant prices.
“The safest option is to buy them at Wests or through Ticketmaster,” Ms Stier said.
“It is breaking my heart – people are getting ripped off and the money isn’t going to farmers.”
