ROCKER Bruce Springsteen today turned Glasgow into a £1million sell-out.

Every available hotel room within a 10-mile radius of the city centre has been snapped up by fans as the American singer songwriter known as the Boss gets set to perform tonight at Hampden Park.

More than 9000 rooms are fully booked and today frantic tourism chiefs were having to tell visitors desperate for a bed to try local hostels and student accommodation.

The demand for city hotel rooms was increased by the 1000 occupational therapists who arrived in Glasgow last night in time for a three-day conference at the SECC which began today.

There are 9090 hotel bedrooms within 10 miles of the city of Glasgow and all but university and hostel accommodation is booked.

Most rooms have been taken by fans who have travelled from all over the country to see 63-year-old Springsteen and his E Street Band on their marathon Wrecking Ball World Tour.

Phillip Mellor, general manager of the city's four star Menzies Hotel and co-chairman of the Greater Glasgow Hotels Association, said: "Everyone I speak to is fully booked. There has been a huge demand for rooms.

"We were busy at the weekend when the Stone Roses were playing and we are in for a sparkling few weeks with Robbie Williams and Bon Jovi due to perform in Glasgow.

"It is absolutely fantastic and is great for the city economy.

"It really is good news for Glasgow and things will only get better when the Hydro opens."

Springsteen promotor Toby Leighton-Pope said: "It's a sell out gig. We've sold more than 45,000 tickets.

"Fans come from miles to see him.

"This is the only Scottish concert of the tour and I believe this will be only the second time Bruce has played in Scotland is something like 25 years."

Leading sources in Glasgow's hospitality sector predict the city will bank £1million.

One said: "Conference delegates will generate more than £500,000 just for today while the Springsteen fans will double that in hotel bills, drinks and meals."

Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "The month of June is traditionally a busy month for Glasgow and it is fantastic news to be recording a spike in visitor numbers today.

"This can be attributed to major events and conferences, such as the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert at Hampden Park and the College of Occupational Therapists Conference at the SECC.

"The city's world-class venues and thriving hospitality scene results in Glasgow attracting some of the biggest and best events, global artists and conferences.

"This mid-week peak in hotel occupancy is welcome news and is expected to remain high for the rest of the week as we head towards the hosting of one of our biggest events of the year this weekend – British Cycling's National Road Race Championships."

Marketing chiefs had initially thought visitors could be directed to hotels in and around Glasgow Airport until they discovered they too were fully booked.

Today the only rooms available are at the city's Euro Hostel and Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities.

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk