Billy Joel is known for modern-day classics corresponding to “Uptown Girl”, “Just The Way You Are” and “We Didn’t Start The Fire”, amongst many different chart-topping hits. Photo / Myrna Suárez
Excited Billy Joel followers have begun flocking to Auckland’s Eden Park for tonight’s concert – the primary time a world musician has rocked the stadium.
There is a protracted procession of Billy Joel followers strolling down the Bond St bridge and thru the Kingsland outlets to Eden Park. It’s a gentle procession of fedoras, sunnies, backpacks, shorts, animal prints, sneakers, sharp boots and cheery faces.
Several of the roads round Kingsland just some blocks from Eden Park the place Joel is enjoying have been closed with detours put in place. Witches hats and indicators denoting a “special event” line the Kingsland strip.
Pete and Di Wright had flown up from Dunedin to see the Joel concert tonight. Both are huge followers however they’ve by no means seen him dwell.”I missed the chance to do safety for him at his concert in Melbourne in 87. Too busy with work. So it’s at all times been on the bucket record and right here we’re,” Pete stated.
Leeann and Mark Phillips have travelled up from Wellington to see Joel. Both have been glad the climate has turned out for the occasion.”He’s a bit older than us however we’ve listed to his music for a very very long time. We hear he does a very good concert,” Leeann Phillips stated.
Jill Sunnex had flown up from Christchurch to see Joel and commented on the great climate in Auckland to this point at present.
Sunnex stated she has the nice fortune of her son residing close by to Eden Park so she had simple lodging for the gig.
When requested how lengthy she’d been a fan of Joel she laughed and stated “you can’t ask that. He’s been around for a long time.”
Peter Todd was attending the concert with Sunnex and had travelled from Palmerston North.
He was assured the rain would keep away however had an raincoat with him in case.
Both had by no means seen Joel in concert earlier than and appeared very glad concerning the evening having lastly arrived.
Writing on the wall
Ahead of the gig, Joel signed the wall of Eden Park Turf Shed. His signature joins others, together with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Benee, Rita Ora, and the Indian cricket workforce.
No trains
Auckland’s practice community can be closed this weekend, disrupting journey plans for these going to Billy Joel’s concert at Eden Park tonight.
An Auckland Transport spokesperson stated “frequent” busses would substitute trains. Services from noon till the tip of timetabled companies are included with the concert ticket.
Special occasion buses will go on to and from Eden Park, however Auckland Transport is warning they’ll refill quick and warned followers to depart loads of time for journey.
Gates open at 5pm, and followers ought to purpose to be seated by 7. MetService has forecast the odd bathe for the concert.
Regular journeys from town centre start to depart from Quay St, in addition to alongside the Northern Busway, at 4.30pm. Services from Alexandra Park, Greenlane, will began from 3.30pm. Return journeys begin at 10.30pm.
A park-and-ride facility can be made obtainable within the metropolis centre and at Alexandra Park.
Two frequently timetabled routes passing close to the stadium, 64 and 22N, would have extra frequent companies. Route 64 may have a 6 minute depart each 6 minutes, and 22N may have a 15 minute frequency.
A “park-and-walk” can be arrange at Westfield St Lukes, virtually 2km from Eden Park.
“On-street parking on roads near Eden Park is also likely to be busy,” Gordon stated, “so allow extra time if you are planning to park on a nearby street and walk to the venue.”
The variety of taxi stands can even be elevated to 4 across the stadium for anybody attending to and from the concert by rideshare.
Rail shutdown ‘unavoidable’
KiwiRail’s chief working officer capital initiatives, David Gordon, stated a full closure of town’s community had been deliberate and “locked in” for rail enchancment work and the laying of tracks as a part of the City Rail Link (CRL) venture.
“I fully appreciate the frustration Aucklanders are feeling with disruption to their train services. We’re working on major improvements to the Auckland network, to build a world-class railway for the city.”
The work wanted to be accomplished earlier than the longer Christmas shutdown of the community.
The journey disruption for Joel’s concert was unavoidable, Gordon stated, because the shutdown had already been moved to accommodate an occasion earlier in November.
“We relooked at it but with so many other major events going on in Auckland in the lead-up to Christmas, including Christmas in the Park and the Santa Parade, it just wasn’t possible to move it again.”
Once the work was accomplished, together with the CRL, Aucklanders would have “more frequent, convenient and reliable” rail companies, Gordon stated.
AT interim chief govt Mark Lambert stated buses, park-and-ride, and “park-and-walk” choices can be offered for concertgoers.
“Instead of trains, we’re running a series of event buses from the city centre to Eden Park, as well as express buses from the North Shore along the Northern Busway.”
He requested folks attending the concert to plan their journeys forward of time.
“We expect the event buses to be heavily patronised with increased wait times likely.”
History within the making
Billy Joel is Eden Park’s first worldwide artist since Covid.
The singer-songwriter will this night play his first New Zealand stadium present in 25 years.
After a break enforced by the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s shaping as much as be a giant summer season for worldwide gigs in New Zealand.
Billy Joel isn’t the one world-renowned artist to play at Eden Park this month. Guns N’ Roses will play at the identical venue subsequent weekend, on Saturday, December 10.
Billy Joel at Eden Park: Fans descend on stadium for history-making concert
Billy Joel at Eden Park: Fans descend on stadium for history-making concert
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Billy Joel at Eden Park: Fans descend on stadium for history-making concert