Concert promoter MCD Productions is on course for the second busiest year in its history, managing director Denis Desmond has said. It will sell about 2.5 million tickets in 2025, he said.
Mr Desmond said business “is very solid” and that gross ticket sales would be €212 million-€225 million, based on average prices of €85-€90 per ticket.
The bumper ticket sales for 2025 follows trade industry journal Pollstar reporting that MCD last year sold a record €238.5 million in ticket sales.
Last year was the company’s busiest year, boosted by sell-out shows from Taylor Swift and Coldplay.
Mr Desmond said upcoming gigs by Dua Lipa in the Aviva and Olivia Rodrigo in Marlay Park are sold out, adding that Croke Park shows by Oasis and Robbie Williams along with Electric Picnic are also sell outs.
Mr Desmond said MCD would sell slightly less tickets in 2025 than 2024 due to a reduced number of shows compared with last year.
[ Electric Picnic promoters to seek permission for 80,000 tickets a dayOpens in new window ]
Beyoncé had just finished a six-date, sold-out run in London and Mr Desmond said she would have come to perform in Dublin but was unable to do so due to stadium unavailability in the capital.
“Beyoncé is only touring Europe in June and Croke Park is not available until August because of the games being played. She would have come to Dublin otherwise. The economics of big shows at the moment means multiple dates at the same venue and there was nowhere available,” he said.
He said Beyoncé played Croke Park eight years ago “and I’m sure she will come back here again to perform in three or four years time”.
MCD Productions is owned by LN Gaiety Holdings Ltd, which is a joint venture between Mr Desmond’s Gaiety Investments and Live Nation.
Mr Desmond also questioned why sporting events such as the upcoming US College and NFL football games receive State subsidy but live entertainment doesn’t.
“Live entertainment events generate a huge return for the exchequer in terms of the spend on restaurants, transport and hotel bednights.”
Mr Desmond made his comments on Monday when asked to comment on accounts for MCD Productions Ltd, which show it made a post tax profit of €3.53 million in 2022.
