Top Attendance at a U.S. concert by a single headliner:
1. U2 - Rose Bowl; Pasadena, Calif. (Oct. 25, 2009)
Attendance: 97,014
Gross: $9,960,036
2. The Who - JFK Stadium; Philadelphia, PA. (September 25, 1982)
Attendance: 91,451
Gross: $1,440,353
4., 5. Rolling Stones - JFK Stadium; Philadelphia, PA. (September 25-26, 1981)
Attendance: 181,564 (average 90,782 per show)
Gross: $2,859,633
6. , 7. , 8. , 9. Rolling Stones - LA Memorial Coliseum; Los Angeles, CA. (October 18-19; 21-22, 1989)
Attendance: - 360,068 (average 90,017 per show)
10. Rolling Stones - Superdome; New Orleans, LA. (December 5, 1981)
Attendance: 87,500
Gross: $1,531,250
11. U2 - John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia (Sept. 25, 1987)
Attendance: 86,145
Gross: $1,593,683
12. U2 - FedExField; Landover, Md. (Sept. 29, 2009)
Attendance: 84,754
Gross: $6,718,315
13. Journey - Rose Bowl; Pasadena, Calif. (July 2, 1982)
Attendance: 83,214
Gross: $1,373,031
14. The Who - LA Memorial Coliseum; Los Angeles, CA. (October 29, 1982)
Attendance: 83,000
Gross: $1,365,415
15., 16., 17., 18. Bruce Springsteen - LA Memorial Coliseum; Los Angeles, Calif. (Sept 27-30 & Oct 2, 1985)
Attendance: 331,892 (average 82,973 per show)
Gross: $5,688,445
19., 20. U2 - Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ. (September 23-24, 2009)
Attendance: 161,810 (average 80,905 per show)
Gross: $16,128,950
21. Pink Floyd - JFK Stadium: Philadelphia, PA (September 19, 1987)
Attendance: 80,754
22. The Who - Rich Stadium; Buffalo, N.Y. (September 26, 1982)
Attendance: 80,000
Gross: $1,200,000
23., 24. Rolling Stones - Cotton Bowl; Dallas, Texas (November 1, 3, 1981)
Attendance: 156,000 (average 78,000 per show)
Gross: $2,695,332
25. Aerosmith - Silverdome; Pontiac, Michigan (May 8, 1976)
Attendance: 76,900
Gross: $645,824
26., 27. Rolling Stones - Silverdome; Pontiac, Michigan (November 30, December 1, 1981)
Attendance: 152,696 (average 76,348 per show)
Gross: $2,290,490
28. Led Zeppelin - Silverdome; Pontiac, Michigan (April 30, 1977)
Attendance: 76,229
29. Pink Floyd - Ohio State University Stadium; Columbus, Ohio (May 29, 1994)
Attendance: 75,250
Gross: $2,406,920
30. The Who - Silverdome; Pontiac, Mich. (September 30, 1982)
Attendance: 75,000
Gross: $1,119,000
31. Rolling Stones - Rich Stadium; Buffalo, N.Y. (September 27, 1981)
Attendance: 75,000
Gross: $1,125,000
32. Rolling Stones - Sun Devil Stadium: Tempe, Arizona (December 13, 1981)
Attendance: 74,637
Gross: $1,287,488
33. Foreigner - Anaheim Stadium; Anaheim, Calif. (July 17, 1982)
Attendance: 73,351
Gross: $1,100,255
34. Backstreet Boys - Georgia Dome, Atlanta (Feb. 19, 2000)
Attendance: 73,337
Gross: $2,787,098
35., 36. Bruce Springsteen - Orange Bowl; Miami, Florida (September 9-10, 1985)
Attendance: 146,458 (average 73,229 per show)
Gross: $2,563,015
So, although the Backstreet Boys performance at the Georgia Dome was listed in the top 5 for attendance in the article, its actually not even in the top 30 once you include shows prior to January 1991.
Note: There are two Rolling Stones shows at LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, a Police show at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, a Police show at Hollywood Park in California that could potentially make this list of shows, which consist of shows with 73,000+ attendance per show. But no official boxscore was posted in Billboard for those shows.
Rolling Stones - LA Memorial Coliseum; Los Angeles, Calif (October 9-10, 1981)
Attendance: ?
Gross: ?
The Police - JFK Stadium; Philadelphia, PA (August 20, 1983)
Attendance: ?
Gross: ?
The Police - Hollywood Park; Hollywood, Calif (September 5, 1983)
Attendance: ?
Gross: ?
Festivals and shows that appear to be festivals:
"SPIRIT OF SUMMER 76" #1
Line up: Yes / Peter Frampton / Gary Wright / Pousette Dart Band
JFK Stadium; Philadelphia, PA (June 12, 1976
Attendance: 105,000
Gross: $1,050,000
Allman Brothers / Marshall Tucker / Outlaws / Molly Hatchet / .38 Special
JFK Stadium; Philadelphia, PA (June 20, 1981)
Attendance: 90,000
Gross: $1,350,000
LIVE AID - JFK Stadium; Philadelphia, PA (July 13, 1985)
Attendance: 89,484
Gross: $3,552,800
TEXAS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Deep Purple / Night Ranger / Scorpions / Ted Nugent / Bon Jovi / Grim Reaper / Victory
Cotton Bowl; Dallas, Texas (August 24, 1985)
Attendance: 80,000
Gross: $1,467,864
FARMAID - Memorial Stadium; University Of Illinois Champaign, Illinois (September 22, 1985)
Attendance: 79,000
Gross: $1,450,500