A ROCK ’n’ roll star’s stadium-rocking performance is estimated to have given the city’s economy a £2 million pound lift.

Rod Stewart’s gig at the American Express Community Stadium on Friday night welcomed more than 20,000 adoring fans, also boosting trade for the city’s hotels, restaurants, shops and bars.

Rod’s promoter Peter Taylor said hoteliers, restaurant owners and pub landlords will be feeling the economic spin-off from the music icon’s performance at the home of Brighton and Hove Albion. Mr Taylor said: “More than 20,000 fans snapped up the chance to see the 69-year-old at the Amex – his first appearance in the city for 28 years.

“It was the biggest ever gig at Brighton and Hove Albion’s stadium – beating Fatboy Slim, who played two shows there last summer.

“We estimate that Rod’s appearance at the Amex gave the economy of the city a welcome boost of around £2 million. Businesses across a range of sectors will have benefited from the influx of Rod fans to the city.

“And because the show was on a Friday, that ‘feelgood factor’ was also being spread throughout the weekend.”

Darren Nash, owner of The Moreland guesthouse in Montpelier Road, Brighton, said four sets of Rod fans stayed at his bed and breakfast on Friday.

He said: “We had four rooms of the house reserved for fans. They all travelled from across the country to see him and had a good time, from what I gathered.

“We had them ringing up to reserve months ago when they got their tickets, which you don’t normally get.”

Mikele Addis, owner of the Donatello restaurant in Brighton Place, said he “definitely agreed” Rod’s performance brought extra business to the city.

He added: “We were very busy and had a big rush from the early afternoon.

“We had two big groups of about 20 women who told us they were excited to see Rod.

“There was a great atmosphere.”

The rocker announced his tour after releasing his top-selling album, called Time, which reached number one in the charts and features a popular autobiographical song called Brighton Beach.

Rod told The Argus the night was “something of a homecoming” as he spent much of his youth in Brighton and once lived on a houseboat in Shoreham.

He said he loves playing concerts in football stadiums, volleying lots of signed footballs into the crowd during the show.