BBC Festival Lures Massive Crowds and Revenue to Moor Park
When Radio 2 in the Park rolled into Preston this September, few could predict just how much cash and energy would flood the city. Over three days, 68,100 people filled Moor Park, bringing life to local streets, hotels, and eateries. The festival pumped Radio 2 in the Park front-and-center as not just a musical showcase, but an economic powerhouse: Preston raked in £5.3 million from visitor spending alone, according to an in-depth report from social impact analysts Hatch.
What’s striking here isn’t just the headline number. It’s the detail in how the benefits rippled across the city. About £2.4 million translated directly into Gross Value Added (GVA) for Preston, marking a boost in the real, measurable value created for the local economy. Around 2,100 local jobs got a lift—think everyone from baristas to hotel staff and security teams. The influx wasn’t just from out-of-towners either; Preston’s own residents chipped in another £434,000 on event spending, showing the festival’s reach wasn’t confined to outsiders.
Putting Preston on the National Festival Map
The voices behind the event say this is about more than just numbers. Councillor Paul Hindle, speaking on behalf of the city council, put it plainly: events like this prove that Preston isn’t just a pit stop, but a destination. The festival’s weekend impact matched—and even outpaced—forecasts. Earlier estimates from the Preston Business Improvement District hovered around £4 million. The end result? More than 30% above that, and a clear signal that the city can punch above its weight when the BBC comes knocking.
Helen Thomas, who leads Radio 2, had only praise for the response from local businesses and residents alike. From sold-out restaurants downtown to late-night cabs scurrying across neighborhoods, Preston seized the moment. Locals, in turn, got the chance to see their city broadcast to a national audience—a shot in the arm after years of playing second fiddle to larger northern cities.
This isn’t the city’s first go at hosting a national BBC extravaganza. Back in 2007, the “Big Weekend” festival landed here, setting a precedent and laying the groundwork for what’s possible when the city leans in. And it’s not just Preston. Leicester’s 2023 edition of the same Radio 2 event scored a notable economic boost, setting a trend that the BBC seems keen to continue in northern hotspots outside of the usual big stadium settings.
So what does this really tell us? Pull in tens of thousands, put local businesses on the front lines, and you’re not just putting cash in the register. You’re raising the city’s sights—locally and nationally—on what’s possible for Preston’s future on the festival map.