Ed Sheeran confirms second Auckland show

Ed Sheeran's Auckland fans have two chances to catch the British pop sensation when he performs here next year. Photo/Dean Purcell

Ed Sheeran has added a second Auckland show to his tour plans for New Zealand following overwhelming demand for pre-sale tickets today.

Sheeran had already confirmed plans for two shows in 2018: at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on March 24, and at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on March 29.

But pre-sale demand was so high today that Sheeran added a second Auckland show - on Sunday, March 25 - to his itinerary "to meet demand".

Promoters said pre-sale tickets for his first two shows were snapped up in minutes when they went on sale this afternoon.

@edsheeran Announce another show in Auckland! Pre-sale was gone in a flash! #NeedToSeeYouAgainSoon!!

— Jess Wright (@Foreverwrights) May 16, 2017

A pre-sale for Frontier Touring members for his new Auckland show begins later today, at 3pm.

Tickets for all three shows are due to go on general release next Tuesday.

One fan who was online at 1pm in an attempt to buy pre-sale tickets told the Herald she missed out - along with three friends who were doing the same thing.

"We were all on a conference call. We were trying everything. At first we were trying to get four tickets, and then two, and then one - we even tried to get the most expensive ones.

"We were going for any seats ... and it just wasn't working."

The fan, who asked not to be named, said her sister broke down in tears after missing out. But she admitted they'd try again at 3pm when the pre-sale began for the new show.

The new show means it will be Sheeran's biggest New Zealand tour yet. He'll be playing in support of his new album ÷.

He was last here in December 2015, when he played one Mt Smart Stadium show - his last before taking a break from music.

Adele holds the record for shows at Mt Smart Stadium when she played three sold out dates in March.