As Oasis fans come to terms with confirmation of the band’s hotly-anticipated reunion, Cardiff is already preparing to play host for their opening dates.
Liam and Noel Gallagher will perform two dates at the Welsh capital‘s Principality Stadium next year.
Best known as the home of Welsh rugby, the 74,500-seat stadium has recently hosted Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift.
But with confirmation on Tuesday that the Oasis tour will be opening in Cardiff on 4 and 5 July, businesses are hopeful of a bumper windfall.
Gary Corp, manager of The City Arms, says his pub’s takings could be up to six times higher on the days of the gigs.
“Great for the city again. To be number one is more than we can wish for to be honest,” he told Sky News.
“We’re well up for it, we can’t wait. It’s really exciting news to be fair.”
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Mr Corp is hoping city centre road closures for the event will mean the pub can “treble if not quadruple the footfall on the street”.
But, as ever, how great a boost the business will see is at the mercy of the weather.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a nice bit of weather. A lot depends on the weather with us to be fair, but I think it does with a lot of pubs,” Mr Corp added.
“But it’ll be like an international day, it’ll be crazy. We can go from £5,000 a day to £30,000 a day.”
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‘Quite surreal’
A stone’s throw away at Tiny Rebel, events manager Ethan John said the announcement was “quite surreal”.
“A week or two ago, [we] probably didn’t think it would ever happen,” he told Sky News.
“A few moments ago we were all chit chatting and saying how exciting it is. And not only that they’re playing again but that the first date’s in Cardiff.”
Recent concerts such as Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour had a “massive impact” on footfall, according to Mr John.
“[We’re] definitely going to have to do some celebratory events in the run up to it and stuff like that. Really make the most of the dates when they’re going to be performing,” he added.
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Mr John said some regular customers sometimes choose to stay away during “big city-encompassing events”.
“But overall I would say it’s going to be a positive because unfortunately, with the cost of living crisis and stuff like that, the town’s not really as busy as it used to be,” he said.
“So to have a big event like this coming in, you’ve got to make the most of it.”
Businesses in Cardiff will be hoping Oasis fans Don’t Go Away and choose to Stand By [Them] in July.
