Liverpool ONE prepares 100,000 extra visitors ahead of major events

Liverpool is set to host performances by global stars Taylor Swift, P!NK, and the much-anticipated Comic Con, all of which are poised to attract thousands of visitors to the city.

Retail leaders are anticipating a significant increase in footfall as Liverpool gears up to host these large-scale events, with Liverpool ONE expecting an additional 100,000 visitors during the second quarter of the year.

The predicted surge in footfall follows a robust first quarter at Liverpool ONE, with a 3.3% year-on-year increase in foot traffic, outperforming UK benchmarks, according to latest figures from Shoppertrak. Moreover, sales at Liverpool ONE have seen a 2.6% rise so far this year, defying the national trend between January and March, as reported by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

A standout moment during the past quarter was “Super Saturday,” the day before Mother’s Day, which witnessed a remarkable 30% increase in visitors, making it the busiest day of the year thus far. The popularity of Mother’s Day shopping has been steadily increasing at Liverpool ONE, making it the busiest shopping day outside of the Christmas period, especially for beauty-related items.

Pop-up activations have further contributed to the retail and entertainment hub’s success, with brands like Sisters & Seekers, ARNE, Space NK, and Luxe Collective drawing in crowds. Notably, menswear and jewellery sales saw a remarkable increase of over 50% compared to the same period last year.

Iain Finlayson, Estate Director at Liverpool ONE, said:

“We have seen an incredibly strong start to 2024, which is a true testament to the strength of brands we have and those choosing Liverpool ONE to open new stores or for pop-ups.

“We have seen an overwhelming response to brands offering customers something fresh and new, encouraging new visitors to explore what we have to offer here, so we are really looking forward to what else we can bring to Liverpool ONE this year.”

Now, Liverpool ONE is looking ahead to a busy Spring, as the much-anticipated Comic Con arrives at ACC Liverpool on 4 May.

In a brand new partnership, Liverpool ONE is building up to the iconic event – set to be the biggest Comic Con outside of London – playing host to a series of character appearances and parades from cosplay groups.

And, with global superstars Taylor Swift and P!NK performing at Anfield Stadium 13-16 and 24-25 June respectively, the stage is set for continued success in the second quarter of the year.

Iain added:

“Last year, we saw how the city transformed, as Liverpool hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine.

“The legacy from this is an even stronger partnership with the wider city and our lasting appeal to new audiences. Comic Con is a key example of this collaborative way of working with large events that come to the city, and we’re thrilled to be playing such a major role in building the excitement in the run up to the event.

“We have an incredibly packed few months coming up and we’re confident that we will continue bucking national footfall and sales trends.”