Metro services are preparing for what has been described as an “unprecedented challenge” as P!nk revealed she will play a gig at the Stadium of Light on the same night Sam Fender plays at St James’ Park.
Friday, June 10 is shaping up to be a huge night of music in the North East, with superstars taking to the stage in Newcastle and Sunderland. And while gig-goers are set for the time of their lives, they could be facing an absolute nightmare when travelling home.
The two stadiums can hold more than 100,000 people combined, prompting Tyne and Wear Metro to draw up special plans to get people home once the shows finish.
Read more: Sam Fender adds extra date to 2023 Newcastle show following huge presale demand
“Supporting two stadium concerts on the same line, with customers for both using the same stations to come and go through the night, presents an unprecedented challenge, and we will be sitting down with the promoters of both events and other transport operators, as we always do for big gigs, to plan how this will be managed to make the whole evening a success,” a spokeswoman for Nexus said.
"Our offer, including many extra trains and departures into the early hours, goes above and beyond what customers would see elsewhere. Metro provides an award-winning service supporting major events in our region, and we are proud to have been part of stadium concerts in both Sunderland and Newcastle down the years.”
Despite concerns from transport providers, Northumbria Police are taking a different stance on the issue. It said it is a “working police force” and the large-scale events will be nothing it cannot handle.
The force declined to officially comment on specific events, but assured The Chronicle it is “business as usual” and huge concerts are nothing new.
It is understood that the venues themselves are not responsible for security at such events, instead the promoter will arrange stewarding.
P!nk’s date at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light was announced on October 7, and comes as part of her Summer Carnival tour - with 13 European dates, four of which are in the UK.
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