Robbie has landed
The international pop star, who was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, drove off in an entourage of three cars which was escorted out of the airport by security vehicles. Williams will kick off the biggest tour this country has seen on Thursday night at Subiaco Oval. The West Australian understands Williams will stay at the Hyatt Regency Hotel before his two concerts on Thursday and Friday nights for 90,000 fans. The Australian leg of his Close Encounters World Tour has sold more than 470,000 tickets for nine stadium shows, smashing the attendance and gross revenue records of Madonna’s Girlie Show Tour of 1993.
Promoter Michael Chugg said no artist had almost filled Subiaco Oval twice on the same tour — until now. “I knew it was going to be big because the guy is an unbelievable entertainer,” he said. “His audience is five to 70 (years of age).” The tour will be Williams’ third to Australia. His first in 2001 included a gig at the Perth Entertainment Centre and he played stadiums on the east coast in 2003. During his last WA visit, the sports-mad star played three games of indoor soccer against local players and enjoyed a cruise on the Swan River. Mr Chugg said demand was so strong Williams could have sold out two more shows in Sydney and one in Melbourne. The stage for this tour takes 77 trucks to transport around the country and is three times the size of that used by grunge legends Pearl Jam at the same venue last Saturday night. Tickets are still available for both nights.
S. Collins and S. Riley, thewest.com.au