Radio 2 in the Park nets £5.3m for Preston

The BBC Radio 2 in the Park event was worth £5.3m for the Preston economy, the local council has said.

September's three-day festival in Moor Park, which starred acts such as Pet Shop Boys, Sister Sledge, Sting and the Sugababes, attracted nearly 70,000 music fans from all over the country.

Council data has revealed the BBC-hosted event had more than 16,000 visitors who stayed overnight and 31,000 day trippers.

Councillor Anna Hindle, cabinet member for culture and arts at Preston City Council said the event was a tremendous success and "also delivered a substantial boost to our local economy".

She added: "The £5.3m spent in the city over the weekend is a testament to Preston’s appeal as a destination for major events."

Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, added: "We were delighted to broadcast live from several local venues during the build-up to the epic weekend in Moor Park, and were proud to shine a light on this fantastic city."

The economic analysis of the event was conducted by Hatch, a global consultancy with expertise in economic development and social impact assessment.

Tim Fanning, director at Hatch, stated: "Our analysis shows that Radio 2 in the Park has provided a large economic boost to the city of Preston – boosting spending by up to 5% over the September weekend.

"Moreover, it has generated a significant profile for the city, which has knock-on benefits for the visitor economy."

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