IPSWICH Town chiefs have pledged to make Portman Road the top entertainment venue in Suffolk – starting with pop legend Sir Elton John's gig at the stadium in June.

IPSWICH Town chiefs have pledged to make Portman Road the top entertainment venue in Suffolk - starting with pop legend Sir Elton John's gig at the stadium in June.

Club bosses made the promise yesterday as ticket prices and details for the June 16 concert were officially unveiled at a packed press conference.

The show, which is expected to be a 25,000 sell-out, will be the first concert at Portman Road since Canadian rocker Bryan Adams thrilled the town in July 1992.

Derek Bowden, ITFC's Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are committed to making this stadium the number one entertainment venue in Suffolk - we know that we have achieved this in the field of football and we have a thriving conference and events operation.

"Now, by bringing Sir Elton to Portman Road we are opening up yet another aspect to our business which is good for us and the wider community of Suffolk."

Paul Clouting, ITFC's Commercial Director, said the club was "delighted" to be able to bring a performer of Sir Elton's stature to Ipswich.

"Building on the success of having a major England international football fixture here in August last year, this event will bring another 25,000 people into Ipswich again, and the trade that goes along with it," he added.

"We have been looking at trying to bring this type of event to Portman Road for a number of years and we wanted an individual who we could guarantee would sell out the stadium.

"When we approached Elton John he very much remembered meeting the team in Estonia a few seasons ago and he was delighted to say yes, which was great news for us."

Mr Clouting added: "The event will also be an important source of revenue for the club. The challenge for us is to generate as much money as we can and we are always looking for new revenue streams.

"This is one of those revenue streams that doesn't depend on how the team performs on the field."

Tickets for the concert will go on sale on Friday, February 13, at 10am, with prices ranging from £37 to £100.

Box office bookings will be taken around the clock by Nottingham-based ticket agency The Way Ahead, while Marshall Arts will prepare staging and lighting for the gig.

Sir Elton's concert will not feature any support bands or performers, but fans were promised at least two-and-a-half-hours of the man himself on stage.

"I'm sure anyone who has seen Elton John previously will agree that he is good value for money," added Mr Clouting.

"We know that when Sir Elton tickets went on sale for a performance scheduled at Bristol City's Aston Gate ground, also later this year, that demand was so huge the event sold out within days as fans scrambled for their seats.

"It is very important to us that purchasing a ticket for the Portman Road concert should be as trouble free as possible.

"I am confident that 'The Way Ahead' provides us with the best service available to our customers."

Mr Clouting added: "We'd like to think Sir Elton will be the first in a long line of music events at Portman Road - providing we can find acts of the same magnitude that can generate such interest."

To book your tickets, call 0871 2200260 or visit www.wayahead.com from 10am on February 13.