Elton playing New Plymouth

His Thursday, December 6, concert is his sole New Zealand gig and comes between shows in Australia.

The 15,000 tickets to the TSB Bowl of Brooklands concert - which range in price from $155 to $375 - go on sale to TSB Bank customers tomorrow and Friday, before general sales start on Saturday.

For weeks there has been speculation about a high-profile performer coming to the Bowl and last week some news websites prematurely announced Sir Elton's New Plymouth concert.

The reports were hastily withdrawn after the promoter warned that the deal was not official.

Promoter Phil Sprey, from Wellington's Capital C: Concerts, says the New Plymouth show comes exactly a year to the day after Sir Elton's last New Zealand performance.

Last December Mr Sprey brought the rock legend to Wellington's Westpac Stadium where he performed for 35,000 fans - the venue's third-biggest crowd.

At the time Mr Sprey asked the superstar if he would pop across the Tasman in the middle of his Australian tour and, to his surprise, Sir Elton agreed.

In New Plymouth yesterday to officially announce the concert, Mr Sprey said he again saw a gap in Sir Elton's planned summer tour down under later this year and put to him the possibility of a New Zealand concert.

Working with Venture Taranaki they were able to attract Sir Elton to the Bowl, said Mr Sprey, who as a teenager spent a couple of years as a boarder at New Plymouth Boys' High School and admits having a soft spot for the Bowl.

The Rocket Man Solo concert will see Sir Elton on stage with his signature piano.

Mr Sprey says there is no truth to the rumour that Sir Elton himself had come to check out the Bowl when he was here last year and neither had his people.

"We sold the venue to them. The concert (in Wellington) last year was one of the best productions. If they have had a great experience with us it helps us and others to bring the act back, it adds to the weight."

Mr Sprey says they could have taken the concert to a larger venue but it was about more than just the bottom line.

"It's about delivering an experience that won't be forgotten for a very long time. I don't think the audience or Elton will be disappointed.

"We see it as our responsibility to work with the venue and the community."

Mr Sprey has no doubt the New Plymouth concert will sell out.

New Plymouth Mayor Peter Tennent is thrilled the concert is coming.

He says Mr Sprey has pushed the Bowl as an iconic venue.

"I think the world knows my view on that venue, I don't think you'd get a more special outdoor venue anywhere and I think it's most appropriate that one of the world's top entertainers is here in New Plymouth," Mr Tennent said.

"I'm thrilled, what better pre-Christmas entertainment than this?"

Tickets to Sir Elton's show will cost $375 for premier diamond seats, premier platinum tickets will be $265 and gold tickets $155.