U2 360 Boxscore Discussion

[Maoilbheannacht]

Billboard is now redirecting trafic from Billboardmagazine which was the old site to the new site. So, it looks like were back to depending on someone with access to Billboardbiz or waiting for the magazine to hit the news stand in order to see individual venue boxscore results.

 

[icecreamkiller]

Again, the number of tickets that are released for sell is dependent on many different factors. If an artist is touring with a stage that is not open to the back, the promoter will not release tickets for sell that are behind the stage. They also may not release tickets on the side of the stage until they day of the show to be certain the seats are not obstructed view. Lighting, mixing desk, and other things apart of the concert set up can block some seats and it may not be known until the venue is set up for the show whether certain seats can be used. So those seats are not released for sell.

This of course allows the promoter to simply release a smaller block of tickets that they think the artist can sell by showtime. Sometimes the artist does sell the tickets, sometimes they don't. Nearly half of Bruce Springsteens shows this year have not soldout. At the May 2001 Elevation show in Pittsburgh PA, the 2nd level behind the stage area was empty. This was a $45 dollar ticket section. Just before the concert you could not buy tickets in this area, although you would have had a clear view of everything. In fact, no tickets were available.The promoter chose not to release these tickets for sell. The concert was recorded as a sellout.

But venue officials regularly report to the media attendance numbers bigger than what's reported by Billboard - meaning the tickets that Billboard reports as having been sold were not the only tickets available, since they were not the only tickets sold. What goes in the boxscore charts is only the number of tickets the promoter expected to sell, and how many out of those they did sell. If more tickets than that are sold, it doesn't go into the report. Like I said, with U2 this isn't as obvious because their numbers as reported to Billboard are very close to the real number of tickets available, since Live Nation expects them to fill the venue - but take, for example, Madonna's performance in Udine, Italy last month. Per Billboard's numbers, 28,000 tickets were sold. However, those who were at the 42,000-capacity stadium claimed the stadium looked completely full - and Italian newspapers widely reported an attendance of 40,000 people as reported by venue officials, with one newspaper saying a few hours before showtime that about 2,000 out of the 42,000 tickets available had not been sold. So the numbers as published by Billboard don't actually reflect the number of tickets up for sale by the time the show began or ended, just how many were expected to sell - it's not at all uncommon for tickets to a show to be available at the venue box office after the show has started, only for that show to be reported as a sold-out event later.

 

[robbrecon72]

I'll let you guys know today when I see the boxscores off of billboard.biz

 

[robbrecon72]

London,zagreb,chorzow!

I got em! they just came up a bit ago! the number on the side is their rankings, there were several successful events put out this week.

#2 London-$20,680,860 164,244 2/2

#4 Zagreb-$12,700,784 124,012 2/2

#9 Chorzow-$6,414,960 75,180 1/1

 

[ramblin rose]

What do the prices mean?

They seem kind of strange for these two shows.

Zagreb $350.51, $43.76

Chorzow $388.36, $44.88

 

[robbrecon72]

i believe that is their high end ticket and their low end ticket prices

 

[ramblin rose]

That's what I thought but it seems really high for these two shows. Isn't the high end around $250?

 

[robbrecon72]

perhaps it's the highest bid on the red zone tickets

 

[beLIEve]

Converted to U.S. dollars for U.S. based magazine. Higher high-end ticket prices, and higher low-end ticket prices when viewed as converted dollar values.

 

[robbrecon72]

here is what i came up with for the totals

Total number of shows-21
Number of sellouts-21
Total gross-$170,864,869
Average gross per show-$8,136,422
Average ticket price-$107.3
Total Attendance-1,591,812
Average Attendance-75,801

 

[ramblin rose]

Converted to U.S. dollars for U.S. based magazine. Higher high-end ticket prices, and higher low-end ticket prices when viewed as converted dollar values.

Sorry, but in most countries the higher end tickets were 165 Euro, which translates to about $250 (maybe a little less). In all of the other boxscores the higher end price was at that level. I guess that means that Chorzow and Zagreb were stuck with the highest prices of the entire tour.

 

[cm]

Any guesses as to the first show not listed as soldout in billboard?

I'm going to guess Charlottesville.

 

[bathiu]

Sorry, but in most countries the higher end tickets were 165 Euro, which translates to about $250 (maybe a little less). In all of the other boxscores the higher end price was at that level. I guess that means that Chorzow and Zagreb were stuck with the highest prices of the entire tour.

...sad, but true. we don't have Euro yet, and back in March/April, when tickets went on sale, the value of our money was much lower than it is now,
(1 PLN = 4,1 EUR now; 1 PLN = 4,6/4,7 EUR back then) so we had to pay more.

 

[digitize]

Any guesses as to the first show not listed as soldout in billboard?

I'm going to guess Charlottesville.

Might have been Glasgow.

 

[bathiu]

That's what I thought but it seems really high for these two shows. Isn't the high end around $250?

perhaps it's the highest bid on the red zone tickets

Chorzow $388.36, $44.88

no, not redzone, $388 was for "seats", 2 sectors right in front of the stage had that price.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

But venue officials regularly report to the media attendance numbers bigger than what's reported by Billboard - meaning the tickets that Billboard reports as having been sold were not the only tickets available, since they were not the only tickets sold.

Actually they don't, and if they do its not accurate. The Billboard Boxscore numbers are used to determine which tour had the highest gross for the year in terms of tickets sold, so NOTHING is being left out.

What goes in the boxscore charts is only the number of tickets the promoter expected to sell, and how many out of those they did sell. If more tickets than that are sold, it doesn't go into the report.

I've not seen anything that would support that idea at all. Whats reported by Billboard Boxscore are the FINAL figures for the show and are used to determine the top grossing tours at the end of the year.

Its not the number of tickets the promoter expects to sell since that is constantly changing for many artist.

but take, for example, Madonna's performance in Udine, Italy last month. Per Billboard's numbers, 28,000 tickets were sold. However, those who were at the 42,000-capacity stadium claimed the stadium looked completely full - and Italian newspapers widely reported an attendance of 40,000 people as reported by venue officials, with one newspaper saying a few hours before showtime that about 2,000 out of the 42,000 tickets available had not been sold.

Sorry, but Madonna only sold 28,000 tickets to the show. Promoters have ways of spacing out the sell of tickets to make a show that is only 65% full, look like it is 100% full. Newspapers are historically inaccurate when it comes to actual attendance figures.

So the numbers as published by Billboard don't actually reflect the number of tickets up for sale by the time the show began or ended, just how many were expected to sell - it's not at all uncommon for tickets to a show to be available at the venue box office after the show has started, only for that show to be reported as a sold-out event later.

Thats true about tickets still being available at the boxoffice after the show starts, but any tickets that are sold are counted in Billboards attendance and gross figures.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

New Boxscores for London, Zagreb, and Chorzow!

August 6, 2009
Chorzow, Poland
Śląski Stadium
GROSS: $6,414,960
ATTENDANCE: 75,180
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $85.33

August 9-10, 2009
Zagreb, Croatia
Maksimir Stadium
GROSS: $12,700,784
ATTENDANCE: 124,012
SHOWS: 2
SELLOUTS: 2
Average Ticket Price: $102.42

August 14-15, 2009
London, United Kingdom
Wembley Stadium
GROSS: $20,680,860
ATTENDANCE: 164,244
SHOWS: 2
SELLOUTS: 2
Average Ticket Price: $125.92

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

Sorry, but in most countries the higher end tickets were 165 Euro, which translates to about $250 (maybe a little less). In all of the other boxscores the higher end price was at that level. I guess that means that Chorzow and Zagreb were stuck with the highest prices of the entire tour.

Croatia and Poland don't use the Euro. I know that Croatia did have the highest ticket price of any show this year, but that was only for the most expensive tickets.

 

[ramblin rose]

...sad, but true. we don't have Euro yet, and back in March/April, when tickets went on sale, the value of our money was much lower than it is now,
(1 PLN = 4,1 EUR now; 1 PLN = 4,6/4,7 EUR back then) so we had to pay more.

Wow, those prices are unreal.

Croatia and Poland don't use the Euro. I know that Croatia did have the highest ticket price of any show this year, but that was only for the most expensive tickets.

Yeah, I know that. I just imagined that they would have priced the shows at around a $250 equivalent level, similar to the European shows.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

Box Office Data - U2 360 TOUR

1ST LEG EUROPE

June 30, July 2, 2009
Barcelona, Spain
Camp Nou
GROSS: $19,825,497 (RECORD)
ATTENDANCE: 182,055 (RECORD)
SHOWS: 2
SELLOUTS: 2
Average Ticket Price: $108.90

July 7-8, 2009
Milan, Italy
Stadio San Siro
GROSS: $15,168,799 (RECORD)
ATTENDANCE: 153,806 (RECORD)
SHOWS: 2
SELLOUTS: 2
Average Ticket Price: $98.62

July 11-12, 2009
Paris, France
Stade De France
GROSS: $20,902,760 (RECORD)
ATTENDANCE: 186,544 (RECORD)
SHOWS: 2
SELLOUTS: 2
Average Ticket Price: $112.05

July 15, 2009
Nice, France
Stade Charles Erhmann, Nice
GROSS: $6,261,208
ATTENDANCE: 55,641
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS :1
Average Ticket Price: $112.53

July 18, 2009
Berlin, Germany
Olympic Stadium
GROSS: $9,169,830
ATTENDANCE: 88,265
SHOWS :1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $103.89

July 20-21, 2009
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam ArenA
GROSS: $12,583,998
ATTENDANCE: 125,866
SHOWS :2
SELLOUTS: 2
Average Ticket Price: $99.98

July 24-25-27, 2009
Dublin, Ireland
Croke Park
GROSS: $28,815,352
ATTENDANCE: 243,198
SHOWS :3
SELLOUTS: 3
Average Ticket Price: $118.49

July 31, Aug 1, 2009
Gothenburg, SE
Ullevi Stadium
GROSS: $11,047,995
ATTENDANCE: 119,297
SHOWS :2
SELLOUTS: 2
Average Ticket Price: $92.61

August 3, 2009
Gelsenkirchen, GE
Veltins Arena
GROSS: 7,292,826
ATTENDANCE: 73,704
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS:1
Average Ticket Price: $98.95

August 6, 2009
Chorzow, Poland
Śląski Stadium
GROSS: $6,414,960
ATTENDANCE: 75,180
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $85.33

August 9-10, 2009
Zagreb, Croatia
Maksimir Stadium
GROSS: $12,700,784
ATTENDANCE: 124,012
SHOWS: 2
SELLOUTS: 2
Average Ticket Price: $102.42

August 14-15, 2009
London, United Kingdom
Wembley Stadium
GROSS: $20,680,860
ATTENDANCE: 164,244
SHOWS: 2
SELLOUTS: 2
Average Ticket Price: $125.92



U2 360 TOUR: 1ST LEG EUROPE STATS

GROSS: $170,864,869
ATTENDANCE: 1,591,812
Average Gross: $8,136,422
Average Attendance: 75,801
Average Ticket Price: $107.34
Shows: 21
Sellouts: 21

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

I'll let you guys know today when I see the boxscores off of billboard.biz

Hey, thanks for the numbers, as well as becoming a member of billboard.biz! The Wembley shows finished at #2 on the chart, what was #1?

 

[ramblin rose]

Oxegen Punchestown Racecourse Naas, Ireland was # 1
July 10-12, 2009
Gross $22,723,108
Attendance 211,182 / 222,000
Shows/Sellouts 3 / 0

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

I'm a little surprised by the attendance figures for Wembley since if they are split evenly are only 82,122 per show. But the second show did have trouble selling out its allotment of tickets, so it probably had a smaller capacity than the first show. But, I was thinking around $9 million in gross, and instead it was $10.3 million per show. The London Wembley shows have the highest average ticket price of the tour this year at $125.92.

With only 3 shows left, it looks like the average gross for the first leg Europe will remain above $8 million dollars which is what I had initially predicted.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

Oxegen Punchestown RacecourseNaas, Ireland
July 10-12, 2009
$22,723,108
211,182 /
222,000
3 /
0
$332.45, $130.12
MCD

Who was the artist? Was it a festival?

 

[ramblin rose]

Who was the artist? Was it a festival?

Yeah, it was a 3 day festival. Kings of Leon, Snow Patrol, Killers, NIN among the headliners.

LINE UP 2009

 

[CosmoKramer]

I'm a little surprised by the attendance figures for Wembley since if they are split evenly are only 82,122 per show. But the second show did have trouble selling out its allotment of tickets, so it probably had a smaller capacity than the first show. But, I was thinking around $9 million in gross, and instead it was $10.3 million per show. The London Wembley shows have the highest average ticket price of the tour this year at $125.92.

With only 3 shows left, it looks like the average gross for the first leg Europe will remain above $8 million dollars which is what I had initially predicted.

I think you will appreciate this link, it has over 200 boxscore results. While U2 is amazing, so is Madonna. AC/DC failed to sell out Giants Stadium (7k shy) and the United Center in Chicago (12k out of 14k), which for such a good act is too bad.

Pulse Music Board - Billboard Boxscore 08/29/2009

 

[CosmoKramer]

I know this is all about U2's tour gross but I just found this on the Pulse forum about Maddona's current tour. While U2 will out gross her, you have to say she is a power house up there with U2 and the Stones. I would like to see some info on the Boss but I haven't come across it yet. I guess we can use this as comparison info.....how about them 80's acts!!!

Sticky & Sweet Tour
-Totals thus far...

77 shows out of 78 sold out

3,207,592 tickets out of 3,219,138 sold

$374,186,236 grossed

 

[MMP]

Sticky & Sweet Tour
-Totals thus far...

77 shows out of 78 sold out

3,207,592 tickets out of 3,219,138 sold

$374,186,236 grossed

Cool, U2 already grossed almost half of this figure with less than 1/3 of the number of shows.

U2 360 TOUR: 1ST LEG EUROPE STATS

GROSS: $170,864,869
ATTENDANCE: 1,591,812
Average Gross: $8,136,422
Average Attendance: 75,801
Average Ticket Price: $107.34
Shows: 21
Sellouts: 21

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

I know this is all about U2's tour gross but I just found this on the Pulse forum about Maddona's current tour. While U2 will out gross her, you have to say she is a power house up there with U2 and the Stones. I would like to see some info on the Boss but I haven't come across it yet. I guess we can use this as comparison info.....how about them 80's acts!!!

Sticky & Sweet Tour
-Totals thus far...

77 shows out of 78 sold out

3,207,592 tickets out of 3,219,138 sold

$374,186,236 grossed

What your forgetting though is that much of the reason why Madonna is doing so well in a lot of these places is that she either, has never played there before in her entire 26 year career, or has not played there in 20 years. Those things drive up demand in certain markets much higher than they normally would be.

Madonna played her first shows in Switzerland, Austria, Greece, Norway, Finland, and many other countries on this tour.

I would not put her on U2 and the Stones level. I'd put her and Springsteen on a different level, but essentially above most other artist, just not on the level of U2 and the Stones.

Also the GROSS for Madonna Sticky And Sweet is $371,358,619 and NOT $374,186,236 as reported above.

Madonna's average GROSS per show is only $4,761,008 compared to $8,136,422
for U2. On average U2 is grossing 71% MORE per show than Madonna.

Madonna's attendance is 3,224,135 and NOT 3,207,592 as posted above.

Madonna's average attendance per show is 41,335. U2's average attendance per show is 75,801. So the average U2 show at this point has 84% greater attendance than the average Madonna show on Sticky And Sweet.



Madonna's shows this week in Poland and Finland were Madonna's first shows EVER in those countries.

For Sweden, her shows there this week were the first shows she had played in Sweden since 1990, 19 years ago. Her single show in Sweden in 1990 is the only other time she has played that country.

 

[genesis199125]

wow, maoilbheannact.....no need to get so defensive of U2. CosmoKramer was just complimenting all the 80s act. And although Madonna does not pull in the same attendance figures as U2, she still charges a lot more per ticket, so I think that still puts her in the same league.