Revealed: How many music fans have visited Wolverhampton's The Halls since reopening
Wolverhampton's relaunched entertainment venue has attracted 200,000 music fans since opening its doors last year.
The venue in North Street, formerly known as the Civic and Wulfrun Hall, reopened in May last year after undergoing an eight-year revamp at a cost of more than £48 million.
Operator AEG said 200,000 ticket payers have attended 133 major shows in that time, equalling more than 1,000 customers per event.
The figures come as it was announced that folk legend Bob Dylan is coming to perform there on November 9 with pre-tickets selling out within minutes of fans finding out. The tickets are costing about £106.
The independent research body Global Tourism Solutions and West Midlands Grown Company data show that in the past year Wolverhampton attracted more than 10m visitors an increase on 9.8m in 2022.
In addition the city's visitor economy was worth £458m up by 12.8 per cent on the previous year.
Wolverhampton Council's city development chief Councillor Chris Burden said: "Giving visitors reasons to stay longer and support local businesses is a priority for the council, backed by our exciting and broad culture and events programme.
"We have some fantastic assets and venues in Wolverhampton like the transformed University of Wolverhampton at The Halls, Grand Theatre, Newhampton Arts Centre and Art Gallery, with talented people running them, and we have the confidence of investors who want to develop and expand here.
"The council’s city centre transformation works are creating better public spaces that will attract more visitors which is great news for high street businesses. These are exciting times for the city." The venue has so far played host to numerous big name stars including Pen and Teller, Blur, Siouxsie and McFly, Nile Rodgers and Ned's Atomic Dustbin.
Tickets for the Bob Dylan officially go on sale at 9am on Friday via the AXS website.
The 2024 Express & Star Business Awards were recently held at The Halls which was renamed The venue has been renamed the University of Wolverhampton at The Halls after the university was awarded a five-year sponsorship deal venue operators AEG in March.
Other major draws to the city included the televised Grand Slam of Darts held at WV Active Aldersley last November. While at Bilston's Robin venue performers included Alexander O'Neal and The Drifters.
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