Despite the poor economy and worsening credit crunch, SMG from its base in Newcastle, who manages and owns the 11,000+ seater Metro Radio Arena and also manages the 1,100 seater The Journal Tyne Theatre and PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay, announce 2009 to be the Arena's busiest year since it opened in 1995.

End of year Arena figures for 2009 showed steady growth on the previous year of 17.7%, with over 100 major events taking place. The diversity of events is key to this success, including concerts, steady bookings for conferences and exhibitions, and a strong growth in spectacular family shows e.g. ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, ‘X Factor’, ‘Dancing on Ice’, and ‘Cirque Du Soleil’. However, the ‘icing on the cake’ was the booking of ‘MAMMA MIA!’ for a 44 show run, which started on 12th December 2009. This was a major coup not only for the Arena, but for the North East too, this being the only place in the UK where the show performed outside of London in 2009.

Paul Tappenden, Marketing Director said, '2009 was a stunning year for us, with a high number of world class performers and shows being attracted to the North East. With the continued support of the North East public we're confident that 2010 will be just as exciting, and we already have a huge choice of spectacular events on sale to suit all tastes, from Cirque Du Soleil to Peter Kay’.

Growth is expected to continue with many shows this year already heavily sold. Event bookings confirmed but not yet public are up on last year, and continue the huge range and diversity of 2009. The North East public loves a good night out especially during difficult times, and will continue to support our venues if we provide events of a high caliber.
SMG Newcastle is proud to add yet another venue to those it manages in the area, with the addition in 2009 of a 15 year contract to manage the newly re-furbished PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay sponsored by Evening Chronicle, and owned by North Tyneside Council. The building re-opened on the 12th September this year following a £8.5m refit, and is currently enjoying a tremendous response to its Christmas Panto ’Jack and the Beanstalk’.

The Journal Tyne Theatre also achieved a good performance in what has been a challenging year, and without any subsidy from local council tax payers. Other local theatres, notably the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, received in the region of £650,000 subsidy.
SMG Newcastle also ensures that, where possible, work and money spent is kept within the region, to ensure that the people of the North East benefit from its continued growth and success. This philosophy applies to both large and small contracts for services and supplies, even down to our ice cream supplier. Doddington Dairy in Northumberland, produced a special ‘MAMMA MIA Themed’ ice cream currently on sale exclusively during MAMMA MIA! shows at the Arena, up to the 17th January 2010.

SMG will continue to project to the public to only buy tickets from official Box Offices, (this also applies to other venues in the North East) and avoid purchasing from bogus websites or auction sites.