Record ticket sales and back-to-back bookings will have the South Okanagan Events Centre complex packed with people this weekend.
An estimated 12,000 people will walk through the doors of the SOEC, the OHS Training Centre and Penticton Trade and Convention Centre between Friday and Sunday as four bookings will draw people from not only the city but from out of town.
"The South Okanagan Events Centre was built with the vision to enhance Penticton's capacity to host events throughout the year, but especially during the shoulder season. The schedule for this coming weekend is evidence that this strategy continues to work," said Mayor Dan Ashton. "Concerts, sports tournaments, hockey games and conventions all contribute to the local economy, so we are thrilled to hear how busy Penticton will be this weekend."
Global Spectrum anticipates Friday's Eric Church concert at the SOEC to be the highest attended concert to date, with more than 5,100 tickets sold as of Thursday. The Penticton Vees are scheduled to play Saturday night, with an anticipated crowd of just over 2,000 and the Okanagan Hockey Academy is hosting a bantam and midget hockey tournament Friday through Sunday for eight teams — four of which are coming from out of town.
Also this weekend is the 18th annual CHBA South Okanagan Home Show on Saturday and Sunday at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. The show will be packed with exhibitors from throughout the valley. Attendance for the trade show is anticipated to be around the 5,000 mark.
"Last fall we had four weekends with multiple bookings and the entire complex was humming. Our staff is very excited about weekends like these, because they get to play a big part in generating economic activity for local businesses during a typically quiet time," said Dean Clarke, Global Spectrum's general manager of the SOEC complex. "We're working hard to realize the vision for the complex and have a positive impact on our community. There's a lot of pride over here this weekend."
