Oasis tour boosts drinks sales by 75%
Drinks sales in Cardiff were up by 75% on the opening weekend of Oasis’ tour, according to a report from the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).
The quarterly Night Time Economy Monitor is created in collaboration with CGA by NIQ. The report discovered that one in four late-night venues has closed since 2020.
More positively, it identified the impact of Oasis’ reunion and tour on the on-trade. The data follows on from Taylor Swift’s UK tour in 2024, which contributed an estimated £78.4 million (US$101.8m) revenue boost to the sector.
During Oasis’ first weekend in Manchester (11-12 July), drinks sales grew by 13% compared with the same weekend the year prior.
The report also noted that weekend drinks sales usually peak around 6pm, but during this weekend, hourly sales share peaked around 4pm – the same time as the venue gates opened. More than half of the day’s sales were generated by 5pm.
Surprisingly, growth was not concentrated in the city centre. Drinks sales in the suburbs and surrounding towns grew by 31% – nearly triple the growth seen in Manchester.
In Cardiff, where the tour began, drinks sales on 4-5 July were 75% higher than on equivalent dates in 2024. There were spikes during the afternoon and at night, suggesting ticketholders visited the on-trade both before and after the show.
The NTIA noted some negative effects, however, stating that some consumers avoided Manchester and Cardiff during these weekends as they expected venues to be busy.
Manchester was outperformed by the rest of Britain on 11-12 July, with the NTIA stating this could be due to warm weather bringing people out elsewhere in the country.
The report concluded: “The early signs are that the Oasis tour will be a big net gain for the night-time economy. But impacts are going to vary, depending on factors like the weather, location of shows and rival events, and this can make it difficult for operators to plan staffing and promotions.
“It’s also worth noting that big gigs like this are only possible if the grassroots of the live music scene are protected. Support for smaller venues and up-and-coming bands is essential.”
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