U2 360 Boxscore Discussion

[Maoilbheannacht]

Could someone with access look up the numbers for Coldplay for Goffert Park, Nijmegen, The Netherlands please? 2 Nights, I think 9 & 10 September this year. Dutch media reported they attracted more people than U2 in the Amsterdam Arena. Theoretically that would be possible in Goffert Park, but since they kept mentioning 'almost 60.000', I don't think so.

I don't have the Dutch shows, but did find the other following shows from Coldplay's first stadium tour in Europe(17 shows):




August 16, 2009
Herning, Denmark
MCH Outdoor Arena
GROSS: $3,235,729
ATTENDANCE: 33,737 (capacity: 40,000)
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 0
Average Ticket Price: $95.91

August 19, 2009
Bergen, Norway
Koengen
GROSS: $2,433,943
ATTENDANCE: 21,945
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $110.91

August 22, 2009
Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm Stadion
GROSS: $2,367,964
ATTENDANCE: 32,651 (capacity: 33,137)
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 0
Average Ticket Price: $72.52

September 4, 2009
Barcelona, Spain
Estadio Olimpico
GROSS: $4,554,068
ATTENDANCE: 63,306 (capacity: 64,376)
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 0
Average Ticket Price: $71.94

September 7, 2009
Paris, France
Parc Des Princes
GROSS: $4,244,363
ATTENDANCE: 50,355 (capacity: 51,241)
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 0
Average Ticket Price: $84.29

September 14, 2009
Dublin, Ireland
Phoenix Park
GROSS: $3,507,501
ATTENDANCE: 34,372 (capacity: 35,000)
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 0
Average Ticket Price: $102.05



Here are the other 11 shows from the European Stadium tour that don't have figures yet:


August 25, 2009 Hannover Germany AWD-Arena
August 27, 2009 Dusseldorf LTU Arena
August 29, 2009 Munich Olympia Reitstadion Riem
August 31, 2009 Udine Italy Stadio Friuli
September 2, 2009 Bern Switzerland Stade de Suisse
September 9, 2009 Nijmegen Netherlands Goffertpark
September 10, 2009
September 12, 2009 Manchester England Old Trafford Cricket Ground
September 16, 2009 Glasgow Scotland Hampden Park
September 18, 2009 London England Wembley Stadium
September 19, 2009

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

LOL.......Axl, always trying to start something. Yes, but now that you mention it, the Rolling Stones have always picked top-tier support acts, so i think we can be certain that it has had an effect on their attendance figures.

Also, on Steel Wheels in 1989, the Rolling Stones only played 7 shows west of Dallas Texas. Thats right, just 7. No shows in Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington etc.

They did the 3 LA stadium shows, 2 stadium shows in Oakland California, and 2 stadium shows in Vancouver Canada. All of the other 53 shows on the US leg were EAST of Dallas Texas.

I have a question.....according to the RIAA figures in the United States:

The Beatles: 170 million records
Led Zeppelin: 111.5 million records
The Rolling Stones: 66.5 million records
U2: 50.5 million records
The Who: 21 million records

As you can see, comparatively, The Who have sold far fewer records. Yet, how is it that they have managed to play to such huge numbers on their tours? I'm not saying they're better or worse than any of those other bands, I'm just saying, from an objective viewpoint, just in terms of record sales, it doesn't seem to make any sense.

Well, remember, U2 became popular enough to fill and sellout stadiums on the Joshua Tree Tour. At the end of 1987, here were U2's total album sales in the United States:

U2: 7 million
War: 1 million
Under A Blood Red Sky: 1 million
Unforgettable Fire: 1 million
Joshua Tree: 4 million

But you could argue that Boy and October were both closes in on GOLD(500,000) and War, UABRS, and UF were about half way to double platinum. That would bring the US total to:

U2: 9.5 million (December 1987) At this point in time, U2 were a top stadium band on par with the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd in the USA.


1. Since that time, the U2 fanbase has certainly grown, but there have also been people who maybe are not U2 fans anymore or at least not concert going fans or have become more casual in their attendance and buying of the latest album.

2. The switch to the Compact Disk starting in the late 1980s-early 1990s, led to many music fans going out and buying albums they already owned on Cassette or record.

3. The last Who studio album until just recently was released in 1982 before their tour. The Who also made a huge announcement in 1982 that the tour would be their final tour which definitely contributed to the large attendance figures seen on that tour.

4. Since 1982, the Who re-united and toured in 1989 and 1995-1996, and then several times in the 00s. But it was only recently that they released new material.

5. I think a big reason why the Who sales total is lower is because their catalog sales since when they first broke up at the end of 1982 have not been that strong. They did not really benefit from the Compact Disk invention and release either in terms of having old fans re-purchase the albums, or new fans pick up the old albums.

So to sum up, it actually does not necessarily take "massive" album sales in order to sellout stadiums all across the United States. U2 did it with just 8-10 million in Album sales, with their biggest seller when the fall 1987 tour started being the Joshua Tree which hit the 3 million mark on September 30, 1987 two weeks into the 2nd leg of the American tour.

U2 played to 86,145 fans at JFK Stadium on September 25, 1987, 5 days before the Joshua Tree was certified at triple platinum( 3 million in sales). U2's only other certified albums at the time of the that concert were War at platinum, UABRS at platinum, and UF at platinum.

Realize, that back in 1985, U2 in the spring of that year had just recieved their first platinum albums for UF, War, and UABRS, yet they were able to sellout 40 arena shows all across the United States including 5 arena shows in the New York City area. Not ready for stadiums at that point, but certainly on their way even though that did not have a single multi-platinum album yet.

 

[genesis199125]

Also, on Steel Wheels in 1989, the Rolling Stones only played 7 shows west of Dallas Texas. Thats right, just 7. No shows in Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington etc.

They did the 3 LA stadium shows, 2 stadium shows in Oakland California, and 2 stadium shows in Vancouver Canada. All of the other 53 shows on the US leg were EAST of Dallas Texas.



Well, remember, U2 became popular enough to fill and sellout stadiums on the Joshua Tree Tour. At the end of 1987, here were U2's total album sales in the United States:

U2: 7 million
War: 1 million
Under A Blood Red Sky: 1 million
Unforgettable Fire: 1 million
Joshua Tree: 4 million

But you could argue that Boy and October were both closes in on GOLD(500,000) and War, UABRS, and UF were about half way to double platinum. That would bring the US total to:

U2: 9.5 million (December 1987) At this point in time, U2 were a top stadium band on par with the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd in the USA.


1. Since that time, the U2 fanbase has certainly grown, but there have also been people who maybe are not U2 fans anymore or at least not concert going fans or have become more casual in their attendance and buying of the latest album.

2. The switch to the Compact Disk starting in the late 1980s-early 1990s, led to many music fans going out and buying albums they already owned on Cassette or record.

3. The last Who studio album until just recently was released in 1982 before their tour. The Who also made a huge announcement in 1982 that the tour would be their final tour which definitely contributed to the large attendance figures seen on that tour.

4. Since 1982, the Who re-united and toured in 1989 and 1995-1996, and then several times in the 00s. But it was only recently that they released new material.

5. I think a big reason why the Who sales total is lower is because their catalog sales since when they first broke up at the end of 1982 have not been that strong. They did not really benefit from the Compact Disk invention and release either in terms of having old fans re-purchase the albums, or new fans pick up the old albums.

So to sum up, it actually does not necessarily take "massive" album sales in order to sellout stadiums all across the United States. U2 did it with just 8-10 million in Album sales, with their biggest seller when the fall 1987 tour started being the Joshua Tree which hit the 3 million mark on September 30, 1987 two weeks into the 2nd leg of the American tour.

U2 played to 86,145 fans at JFK Stadium on September 25, 1987, 5 days before the Joshua Tree was certified at triple platinum( 3 million in sales). U2's only other certified albums at the time of the that concert were War at platinum, UABRS at platinum, and UF at platinum.

Realize, that back in 1985, U2 in the spring of that year had just recieved their first platinum albums for UF, War, and UABRS, yet they were able to sellout 40 arena shows all across the United States including 5 arena shows in the New York City area. Not ready for stadiums at that point, but certainly on their way even though that did not have a single multi-platinum album yet.

Wow, thank you for that very in-depth analysis

The music business can be very confusing. Have you/are you going to any U2 shows this tour?

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

Wow, thank you for that very in-depth analysis

The music business can be very confusing. Have you/are you going to any U2 shows this tour?

Yes. I saw them at Fedex Field and plan to see them in 2010 as well.

 

[mosquito]

True, but I think its clear they were too conservative in the pricing of the Top level. It will be interesting to see how Dallas compares with Washington DC.

I don't have the Stones Boxscore for the LA Memorial Coliseum back in 1989, but I heard it was 90,000 per night. These shows were opened by Living Color and Guns N' Roses. The singer in Living Color and Axl Rose had big dispute going on with each making verbal references to the other during their individual shows opening for the Stones in LA. I think the dispute had something to do with one of the songs on Guns N' Roses new EP at the time. Guns N' Roses three shows opening for the Stones in LA were the only shows they played in 1989. Their previous tour had ended in 1988.

I have that Boxscore:


The Rolling Stones
October 18,19,21,22,1989
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Attendance:360,068
Gross:$9,166,937
Shows:4
Sold outs:4

 

[U2FanPeter]

The DC 360 show beats out every North American show played by Led Zeppelin.

Didn't LZ sell out the Superdome in New Orleans and JFK Stadium in 1977 before Robert Plant's infant son died without warning?

 

[badu2fan]

From the details listed above every show is considered a sellout even if it didnt???? DC Raleigh Charlottesville were not sold out.... Was up with the bean counter?????
With accounting like this we had the mini deppression in banks last year. Hope the same doesn't happen to corporate U2......Grossing 5 million a show is no laughing matter. World bank should be happy.

I would assume with field you have more then what it would hold for a football game.

For the 2006 season, a new north end zone grandstand has been added. 5,730 new chairback, bench and handicap-accessible seating, with another 1,630 permanent bleacher seats built underneath the video scoreboard make Carter-Finley a bowl and give it a capacity of 57,583 spectators. Additional upgrades to the stadium include a new north endzone plaza with concession stands and the addition of two video screens in each corner of the south endzone. Carter-Finley Stadium has the smallest clearance between the stands and the sidelines of any stadium in the ACC. On October 4th, 2009 the stadium hosted a concert from the U2 360° Tour featuring U2 and opening band Muse. This was the first time the venue had hosted a similar event since the modernization of the stadium.

Scott Stadium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
61,000 was record for football game.....

FedExField - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
91,000 for football....

September 29, 2009
Landover, Maryland
Fedex Field
GROSS: $6,718,315 (RECORD)
ATTENDANCE: 84,754 (RECORD)
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $79.27
October 1, 2009
Charlottesville, Virginia
Scott Stadium
GROSS: $4,738,695
ATTENDANCE: 52,433
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $90.38
October 3, 2009
Raleigh, North Carolina
Carter-Finely Stadium
GROSS: $4,962,240 (RECORD)
ATTENDANCE: 55,027
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $90.18

so to fill the dc show they had to sell a lot of cheap tickets compared to Raleigh to have a 10 buck less average....

 

[U2FloridaFan]

84,754 people is a huge number. As of right now, the DC 360 show is the 2nd highest attended U2 concert in North American history. It is only beaten by the September 25, 1987 Joshua Tree tour concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia where there was 86,145 people in attendance.

This will be broken by the Rose Bowl show in LA coming up!!

 

[ntalwar]

From the details listed above every show is considered a sellout even if it didnt???? DC Raleigh Charlottesville were not sold out.... Was up with the bean counter?????

...

September 29, 2009
Landover, Maryland
Fedex Field
GROSS: $6,718,315 (RECORD)
ATTENDANCE: 84,754 (RECORD)
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $79.27

October 1, 2009
Charlottesville, Virginia
Scott Stadium
GROSS: $4,738,695
ATTENDANCE: 52,433
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $90.38

I agree. Anyone who was at these shows knows they were not sold out.

 

[Irishteen]

I agree. Anyone who was at these shows knows they were not sold out.

They sold all tickets that were up on sale, not all tickets they could have.

 

[U2FanPeter]

They sold all tickets that were up on sale, not all tickets they could have.

I wonder if the swapped Giants gig had more returned tix, than walk ups. Yet still counted as a "sell out"

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

Didn't LZ sell out the Superdome in New Orleans and JFK Stadium in 1977 before Robert Plant's infant son died without warning?

Don't know and it would also be a question of "sellout at what capacity"? I believe both shows were cancelled, so no one will ever know.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

From the details listed above every show is considered a sellout even if it didnt???? DC Raleigh Charlottesville were not sold out.... Was up with the bean counter?????
With accounting like this we had the mini deppression in banks last year. Hope the same doesn't happen to corporate U2......Grossing 5 million a show is no laughing matter. World bank should be happy.

....

1. The important point to realize is that "SELLOUT" as defined by the music industry, means the selling of all tickets released to the general public to be purchased.

An arena that can hold 18,000 people for a basketball game and 20,000 for a concert, may only have 15,000 tickets released for the concert because the artist has staging, lighting and sound systems that block views from many seats in the arena. Often, it will not be known until the day of the show which seats can or cannot be used in certain sections.

What this does, is create the system of releasing tickets in batches. The first day of sale, only 80% of the full house may be available for purchase. The promoter then only releases more tickets after the first 80% are sold and in batches he thinks the artist can sell based on the earlier sales data.

So "SELLOUT" or "SOLDOUT" in the industry does not mean the selling of all potential physical seats in the venue in question. It only means that what was released for purchase was sold.

This is the way the industry has done it since 1976.

so to fill the dc show they had to sell a lot of cheap tickets compared to Raleigh to have a 10 buck less average....

The whole top level in Washington DC was priced at only $30 dollars. The Field, Lower Level, Mid-level, which were at higher prices soldout the first day. Clearly, they could have had some $95 and $55 dollar tickets on the top level but decided to take a more conservative approach with those seats. If the show had been more appropriately priced, I think they could have grossed $7.5 million in Washington DC.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

I have that Boxscore:


The Rolling Stones
October 18,19,21,22,1989
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Attendance:360,068
Gross:$9,166,937
Shows:4
Sold outs:4

Thanks! Do you have the Raleigh, North Carolina, Carter Finley Stadium show from that same Stones tour?

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

I wonder if the swapped Giants gig had more returned tix, than walk ups. Yet still counted as a "sell out"

Sorry, but there is no conspiracy. The results are checked and audited.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

Just discovered that there are some Boxscores from 1976. Its listed in Billboard back then as "Boxoffice".

I found a list of the top 15 concert grosses for 1976. Here are the top 3. These were also the top 3 attended shows:


1. "Spirit Of Summer 76" #1
Line up: Yes / Peter Frampton / Gary Wright / Pousette Dart Band
June 12, 1976
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
JFK Stadium
GROSS: $1,050,000
ATTENDANCE: 105,000
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $10.00

Yes, there were 105,000 people there, but its a FESTIVAL celebrating the 200th birthday of the United States. The stadium stage was probably moved out more from the stadium itself in order to allow for the larger crowd. JFK stadium was a horseshoe with the stage placed at the end with the opening.


2. Aerosmith / Ted Nugent
May 8, 1976
Pontiac, Michigan
Silverdome
GROSS: $645,824
ATTENDANCE: 76,900
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $8.40

This is an Aerosmith show with Ted Nugent opening who was a brand new solo artist at the time, playing songs from his first solo album.


3. Eagles / Fleetwood Mac / Boz Scaggs
July 25, 1976
Foxboro, Massachusetts
Stadium
GROSS: $588,687
ATTENDANCE: 64,791
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $9.09

An Eagles show with the relatively unknown at the time Fleetwood Mac and Boz Scaggs opening.

 

[genesis199125]

Just discovered that there are some Boxscores from 1976. Its listed in Billboard back then as "Boxoffice".

I found a list of the top 15 concert grosses for 1976. Here are the top 3. These were also the top 3 attended shows:


1. "Spirit Of Summer 76" #1
Line up: Yes / Peter Frampton / Gary Wright / Pousette Dart Band
June 12, 1976
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
JFK Stadium
GROSS: $1,050,000
ATTENDANCE: 105,000
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $10.00

Yes, there were 105,000 people there, but its a FESTIVAL celebrating the 200th birthday of the United States. The stadium stage was probably moved out more from the stadium itself in order to allow for the larger crowd. JFK stadium was a horseshoe with the stage placed at the end with the opening.


2. Aerosmith / Ted Nugent
May 8, 1976
Pontiac, Michigan
Silverdome
GROSS: $645,824
ATTENDANCE: 76,900
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $8.40

This is an Aerosmith show with Ted Nugent opening who was a brand new solo artist at the time, playing songs from his first solo album.


3. Eagles / Fleetwood Mac / Boz Scaggs
July 25, 1976
Foxboro, Massachusetts
Stadium
GROSS: $588,687
ATTENDANCE: 64,791
SHOWS: 1
SELLOUTS: 1
Average Ticket Price: $9.09

An Eagles show with the relatively unknown at the time Fleetwood Mac and Boz Scaggs opening.

It seems that the late '70s/early '80s seemed to be the height of stadium rock; so many artists back then seem to have the ability to sell out these huge venues.

 

[U2FanPeter]

Don't know and it would also be a question of "sellout at what capacity"? I believe both shows were cancelled, so no one will ever know.

LZ were selling ot every show at that point of their career and figures were likely published when tix went onsale or when when they were refunded.

Probably would have been the 2 biggest shows of their career up to that point.

Also, the wiki page for JFK says Pink Floyd did 120,000 in 1987. Just curious if you have the real number.

 

[ntalwar]

They sold all tickets that were up on sale, not all tickets they could have.

I don't agree with that. Tickets were still up for sale after the show started, and some sections were partially filled.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

It seems that the late '70s/early '80s seemed to be the height of stadium rock; so many artists back then seem to have the ability to sell out these huge venues.

I'm not sure about that actually. There were only a dozen or so stadium shows in all of 1976 and by different artist or they were festivals. It does not appear that anyone did what we would consider today to be a stadium tour. Detroit was a big market back then unlike today. So obviously was Boston.

I think stadium rock festivals were more common back then though.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

LZ were selling ot every show at that point of their career and figures were likely published when tix went onsale or when when they were refunded.

Probably would have been the 2 biggest shows of their career up to that point.

Well, without a boxscore or boxoffice numbers, will never know.

Also, the wiki page for JFK says Pink Floyd did 120,000 in 1987. Just curious if you have the real number

The real number is: 80,754 (sellout). Its the largest single show attendance figure for Pink Floyd in North America in their career.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

I don't agree with that. Tickets were still up for sale after the show started, and some sections were partially filled.

As long as all tickets release for sale, or sold before the boxoffice closes, then the show is marked a sellout. You can have multiple sections completely empty and the show be marked a sellout, provided that tickets were never released for those sections.

Or it could be half a row here, four seats there, 4 full rows at the top etc. As long as a ticket is not released for those specific seats, those seats have no impact on whether the show is considered a sellout or not.

Another factors is ticket scalpers. Empty seats may be the result of ticket scalpers unable to re-sell their tickets.

 

[ntalwar]

As long as all tickets release for sale, or sold before the boxoffice closes, then the show is marked a sellout. You can have multiple sections completely empty and the show be marked a sellout, provided that tickets were never released for those sections.

Or it could be half a row here, four seats there, 4 full rows at the top etc. As long as a ticket is not released for those specific seats, those seats have no impact on whether the show is considered a sellout or not.

Another factors is ticket scalpers. Empty seats may be the result of ticket scalpers unable to re-sell their tickets.

If a movie theater is 90% full I guess it can be considered "sold out" because all the tickets weren't released. It seems like a low threshold to me.

Someone from the C'Ville show (where I was also at) posted that her upper deck section was roped off and she got a free upgrade to the lower deck. Some top sections were about a third full, with empty seats spread out - I doubt scalpers bought seats only up there. Fedex was the same - some sections furthest from stage were half full or less. Billboard may consider them to be sellouts, but anyone who was there won't.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

If a movie theater is 90% full I guess it can be considered "sold out" because all the tickets weren't released. It seems like a low threshold to me.

You don't understand. A movie theater does not withhold tickets to the show. Every seat is available for purchase. With concerts, it is often unknown which seats will be available for purchase until the stage set up has been placed in the venue, and it is known whether questionable seats are blocked or not. That is why in the concert industry tickets are released in batches. U2 always has small ticket drop the day of the show. You can't buy a ticket for a particular seat in the venue until it has been made available for purchase. After the initial on sales date, tickets are only released in quantities of a size the promoter feels the artist can sell. Its an estimate that does not always work out. 1/3 of Springsteen's shows this year have not achieved "sellout" meaning there were tickets released for purchase that were not sold.

Someone from the C'Ville show (where I was also at) posted that her upper deck section was roped off and she got a free upgrade to the lower deck. Some top sections were about a third full, with empty seats spread out - I doubt scalpers bought seats only up there.

Does not matter. If the seat is not released for purchase, it has no impact on whether the show is marked a sellout.

By the way, the only show larger than the U2 360 show at C'Ville was the Stones show in 2005, and that only had about 6,000 more tickets sold.

Fedex was the same - some sections furthest from stage were half full or less.

I was at Fedex. The sections furthest from the stage were at a minimum, HALF full and most likely more than that. Plus, in that case, your only talking about two or three sections on either side of the stage. I actually expected the sections to be completely empty and was stunned to see them on average 1/2 to 3/4 full.

The 84,754 crowd at Fedex field for U2 360 is the largest stadium concert in the history of Maryland and the history of the Washington DC area. It is also one of the largest concert attendance figures ever in North American history. It could be as high as #12 on the all time list for North American attendance, and definitely in the top 20.

Billboard may consider them to be sellouts, but anyone who was there won't.

Billboard is not claiming that any of these shows are "sellouts" in the sense that every potential physical seat that could be used had a ticket sold for it.

 

[mosquito]

Thanks! Do you have the Raleigh, North Carolina, Carter Finley Stadium show from that same Stones tour?

No,i don´t. I only have 20-25 boxscores/attendance figures from the Steel Wheels tour.

 

[phommel]

Here the list with highest grossing tours ever from Wiki.

Amazing to see that U2 is already ranked number 8 with a tour that is just almost half w ay. It is clear that U2 will in the end not only have the highest grossing tour ever, but also the highest total attendance, highest average attendance and highest average grossing...

1 $558,255,524 The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang Tour 2005–2007
144 shows, attendance: 4,680,000, average gross: 3.8, average attendance: 32,500

2 $407,713,266 Madonna Sticky & Sweet Tour 2008–2009
85 shows, attendance: 3,545,899, average gross: 4.8, average attendance: 41,716

3 $390,800,000+ Celine Dion A New Day... 2003-2007
723 shows, attendance: 2,930,000, average gross: 0.557, average attendance: 4,000

4 $389,000,000 U2 Vertigo Tour 2005–2006
131 shows, attendance: 4,619,021, average gross: 2.96, average attendance: 35,259

5 $358,000,000 The Police Reunion Tour 2007–2008
156 shows, attendance: 1,800,000, average gross: 2.3, average attendance: 11,538

6 $320,000,000 The Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge Tour 1994-1995
129 shows, average gross: 2.48

7 $300,000,000 The Rolling Stones Licks Tour 2002–2003
117 shows, attendance: 3,400,000, average gross: 2.56, average attendance: 29,059

8 $299,000,000 U2 360° Tour 2009-2010
44 shows, attendance: 3,000,000, average gross: 6.8, average attendance: 68,181

9 $279,200,000 Celine Dion Taking Chances Tour 2008–2009
132 shows, attendance: 2,300,000, average gross: 2.1, average attendance 17,424

10 $235,000,000 Bruce Springsteen Magic Tour 2007–2008
100 shows, attendance: 2,198,353, average gross: 2.4, average attendance: 21,983

...

16 $143,000,000 U2 Elevation Tour 2001
113 shows, attendance: 2,559,423, average gross: 1.3, average attendance: 22,649

 

[vaz02]

Celine Dion's A New Day really shouldnt be there, it was never toured really.

 

[phommel]

Celine Dion's A New Day really shouldnt be there, it was never toured really.

yes, officially you are right!

 

[ntalwar]

You don't understand. A movie theater does not withhold tickets to the show. Every seat is available for purchase. With concerts, it is often unknown which seats will be available for purchase until the stage set up has been placed in the venue, and it is known whether questionable seats are blocked or not. That is why in the concert industry tickets are released in batches. U2 always has small ticket drop the day of the show. You can't buy a ticket for a particular seat in the venue until it has been made available for purchase. After the initial on sales date, tickets are only released in quantities of a size the promoter feels the artist can sell. Its an estimate that does not always work out. 1/3 of Springsteen's shows this year have not achieved "sellout" meaning there were tickets released for purchase that were not sold.

Yes, I do understand. I've purchased ticket drop tickets several times, when the show was listed as "sold out".
The unsold seats I'm referring to don't fall under that category. u2.com lists some shows as "sold out" and some with the "tickets" link. If a extra few thousand people wanted to attend the MD or VA shows, they could have been accomodated.
We'll see how Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas, etc. are classified.

The sections furthest from the stage were at a minimum, HALF full and most likely more than that.

Exactly.

The 84,754 crowd at Fedex field for U2 360 is the largest stadium concert in the history of Maryland and the history of the Washington DC area. It is also one of the largest concert attendance figures ever in North American history. It could be as high as #12 on the all time list for North American attendance, and definitely in the top 20.

It is impressive - no doubt about that.

Billboard is not claiming that any of these shows are "sellouts" in the sense that every potential physical seat that could be used had a ticket sold for it.

That's a low threshold for sellout, which is ok. I guess the promoter was stuck with a lot of unsold "batches" of seats.

 

[genesis199125]

Here the list with highest grossing tours ever from Wiki.

Amazing to see that U2 is already ranked number 8 with a tour that is just almost half w ay. It is clear that U2 will in the end not only have the highest grossing tour ever, but also the highest total attendance, highest average attendance and highest average grossing...

1 $558,255,524 The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang Tour 2005–2007
144 shows, attendance: 4,680,000, average gross: 3.8, average attendance: 32,500

2 $407,713,266 Madonna Sticky & Sweet Tour 2008–2009
85 shows, attendance: 3,545,899, average gross: 4.8, average attendance: 41,716

3 $390,800,000+ Celine Dion A New Day... 2003-2007
723 shows, attendance: 2,930,000, average gross: 0.557, average attendance: 4,000

4 $389,000,000 U2 Vertigo Tour 2005–2006
131 shows, attendance: 4,619,021, average gross: 2.96, average attendance: 35,259

5 $358,000,000 The Police Reunion Tour 2007–2008
156 shows, attendance: 1,800,000, average gross: 2.3, average attendance: 11,538

6 $320,000,000 The Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge Tour 1994-1995
129 shows, average gross: 2.48

7 $300,000,000 The Rolling Stones Licks Tour 2002–2003
117 shows, attendance: 3,400,000, average gross: 2.56, average attendance: 29,059

8 $299,000,000 U2 360° Tour 2009-2010
44 shows, attendance: 3,000,000, average gross: 6.8, average attendance: 68,181

9 $279,200,000 Celine Dion Taking Chances Tour 2008–2009
132 shows, attendance: 2,300,000, average gross: 2.1, average attendance 17,424

10 $235,000,000 Bruce Springsteen Magic Tour 2007–2008
100 shows, attendance: 2,198,353, average gross: 2.4, average attendance: 21,983

...

16 $143,000,000 U2 Elevation Tour 2001
113 shows, attendance: 2,559,423, average gross: 1.3, average attendance: 22,649

I don't think the numbers for the Police Tour are correct....I read on Billboard that the tour had an attendance of 3.3 million, with a gross of $358 million.