Tom Jones International

This is nice but, of course, the millionth visitor would have come to the MEN Arena anyway. But, good for Sir Tom. And, have you noticed that both this arena and the Echo Arena in Liverpool are owned by newspapers? Where do they get the money these days? Please do not forget to check out the post below with the audio from Cardiff!

Sir Tom Jones helps Arena break record

The Diary by Dianne Bourne/October 20, 2009/Manchester Evening News

IT’S not unusual for the M.E.N. Arena to set new records – and Sir Tom Jones’ weekend show was no exception.

Last Friday the venue welcomed its millionth reveller of the year – knocking weeks off the previous record set in 2007.

Lucky ticketholder Claire Barwise was stunned when she was then invited to meet her idol before the show.

Claire said: “To meet Tom Jones and chill out with him before his Manchester show was amazing. He was so friendly and even signed my framed picture the venue made for me – this has just been the best night.”

John Knight, general manager of the M.E.N. Arena, said: “This is the earliest date we’ve reached the annual 1m milestone and, with another 40 events before the end of 2009, we’re on course for one of our busiest years ever.

“Last year we didn’t reach this mark until mid-November so to hit it so soon – and in such challenging economic times – is great.”

With many shows still to come in the next two months including multiple sold-out nights by Pink, Green Day and Miley Cyrus – another 400,000 people are expected to crowd into the arena before the end of the year.