Top 75 World Arenas [Archive] - SkyscraperPage Forum

Dalreg

Oct 20, 2006, 7:18 PM

The following list from Pollstar Magazine list the top grossing arenas world wide. The figures are for all events hosted by the arenas excluding professional sports. IE, No hockey basketball arena football etc.
The list basically counts concerts, tradeshows, conventions etc.

I am particularily proud of #52, Saskatoon. At 11 300 seats it is one of the smaller arenas on the list and in a city of 230 000 one of the smaller cities.

Way to go Saskatoon. Keep the concerts coming:tup:

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/879/13580250vt4.gif

#52
http://www.sundoghandcraftfaire.com/images/saskplace.jpg

Only The Lonely..

Oct 20, 2006, 7:38 PM

Good for the MTS centre (# 22 )

http://www.thesportsroadtrip.com/win2047.jpg

samne

Oct 20, 2006, 7:38 PM

cool.

whats Hartford's problem? Is it because of Civic Centre renovations?

Snashcan

Oct 20, 2006, 7:40 PM

Strange that the massive arena in Milan was left off, it is an amazing and HUGE structure

1ajs

Oct 20, 2006, 8:12 PM

thats intresting lol hey were right behind the twin cities :P

ErickMontreal

Oct 20, 2006, 8:21 PM

Montreal Bell center (#4)

http://static.flickr.com/33/46148773_9ce35a68f3_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/28/97497494_1fb4958b48_b.jpg

jeremy_haak

Oct 20, 2006, 8:59 PM

I wonder if some cities are affected by having more than one large concert venue. I'm kind of surprised by Calgary and Vancouver's position.

SHOFEAR

Oct 21, 2006, 1:03 AM

I don't see the point in these rankings. Obviously the number of sporting events an arena has limits the number of concerts and trade shows it can put on.

Dalreg

Oct 21, 2006, 1:39 AM

I don't think so. 4 of top 10 have NHL and NBA so they are obviously used a lot for sporting events. This shows that arenas can be used for something other than sports.
I find it kind of funny that the 3 NHL arenas in western Canada are behind Winnipeg (smaller than the 3) and on par with Saskatoon (way smaller than the 3).
This info is probably quite valuable for concert promoters.

mersar

Oct 21, 2006, 3:50 AM

I suspect theres a error, as it shows the Saddledome, and CU Centre had the same totals. And I know that the Saddledome is booked a lot for hockey, but I find it hard to believe that they'd be that close. Especially when I count 15 events in the next 6 months (non hockey/lacrosse only) that would probaly pull close to that total in only 6 months.

Dalreg

Oct 21, 2006, 4:35 AM

Saskatoon has 18 events booked between now and next summer already! So we are just as busy or more.

BlackRedGold

Oct 21, 2006, 5:52 PM

The Saddledome has both lacrosse along with NHL and junior hockey teams playing there.

Vancouver has GM Place, BC Place and the Pacific Coliseum as indoor venues.

I don't know what could explain Edmonton though.

SHOFEAR

Oct 21, 2006, 5:59 PM

I don't know what could explain Edmonton though.

NLL, NHL and WHL next season

This info is probably quite valuable for concert promoters.

How?

jeremy_haak

Oct 21, 2006, 6:04 PM

Do you suppose the Civic Centre draws off some of the events from Scotiabank Place as well? I figured that BC Place would be a bit large for most events, though I suppose when it does, they would be large ones.

trueviking

Oct 21, 2006, 6:29 PM

How?

every year this thing comes out and every year people protest and think there must be some mistake.....these are numbers from a trade publication and do not represent overall arena use...only that specific type of use.

i can see the value they would place on knowing which venues were used most for their specific industry....if you were selling shoes, you would want to know where the most shoes were being sold...you wouldnt want a list of stores that showed combined sales of shoes and hats, if shoes are all you cared about.

SHOFEAR

Oct 21, 2006, 6:41 PM

every year this thing comes out and every year people protest and think there must be some mistake.....these are numbers from a trade publication and do not represent overall arena use...only that specific type of use.

i can see the value they would place on knowing which venues were used most for their specific industry....if you were selling shoes, you would want to know where the most shoes were being sold...you wouldnt want a list of stores that showed combined sales of shoes and hats, if shoes are all you cared about.

I'd look into where I could make the most money selling shoes.

You could sell a shoe that is extremly desired in a furnature store...people will chase after it and the furnature store will make room for it because it draws people. But some basic running shoe that doesn't attract window shoppers is going to be placed in some discount store.

WhipperSnapper

Oct 21, 2006, 6:41 PM

some of these names are hilarious

samne

Oct 21, 2006, 6:55 PM

some of these names are hilarious

yep

#51 is a Beevis and Butthead moment.

#68 could be a rapper or vietnamese food.

trueviking

Oct 21, 2006, 7:13 PM

I'd look into where I could make the most money selling shoes.

You could sell a shoe that is extremly desired in a furnature store...people will chase after it and the furnature store will make room for it because it draws people. But some basic running shoe that doesn't attract window shoppers is going to be placed in some discount store.

i dont really get your analogy, but i am sure there is a list for money made at each concert venue as well....but that wasnt what was posted...why the distress over this list?...it shows one thing....non sports use of arenas...its not something to get worked up about.

it is totally reasonable that people who promote concerts and conventions need to know which venues are most used for that purpose....i am sure its not the only tool they use in their industry, just as the NHL publishes attendance lists, without indicating ticket values.....it is only one indicator..... i hardly see it as something to be offended by.

Dalreg

Oct 21, 2006, 10:21 PM

i dont really get your analogy, but i am sure there is a list for money made at each concert venue as well....but that wasnt what was posted...why the distress over this list?...it shows one thing....non sports use of arenas...its not something to get worked up about.

it is totally reasonable that people who promote concerts and conventions need to know which venues are most used for that purpose....i am sure its not the only tool they use in their industry, just as the NHL publishes attendance lists, without indicating ticket values.....it is only one indicator..... i hardly see it as something to be offended by.

Couldn't have said it better. It is just a list. Nothing to lose sleep over. I posted it because I thought it was interesting info.

SHOFEAR

Oct 21, 2006, 10:37 PM

i dont really get your analogy, but i am sure there is a list for money made at each concert venue as well....but that wasnt what was posted...why the distress over this list?...it shows one thing....non sports use of arenas...its not something to get worked up about.

it is totally reasonable that people who promote concerts and conventions need to know which venues are most used for that purpose....i am sure its not the only tool they use in their industry, just as the NHL publishes attendance lists, without indicating ticket values.....it is only one indicator..... i hardly see it as something to be offended by.

i could see it being of interest if it was broken doen into demographic. These number of people paid to see a rock band, these for country, these a convention. Ignoring many other factors (like venue availability) it would at least tell somebody like a concert promoter somthing about the market. But to lump everything from a Jan Arden to a Motley Crue concert to a Bill Clinton speach in the same stat...I don't see what it tells.

Dalreg

Oct 22, 2006, 1:13 AM

habsfan

Oct 22, 2006, 1:28 AM

Bell Centre is tops in the country...no surprise there!

Jets4Life

Oct 22, 2006, 2:13 AM

"#22 MTS Centre Winnipeg, MB, Canada :D

kool maudit

Oct 22, 2006, 2:29 AM

Bell Centre is tops in the country...no surprise there!

AC has two major league teams though.

Dalreg

Oct 22, 2006, 2:41 AM

AC has two major league teams though.

MSG in NYC has two teams. And it is #2 overall.

Gdoggy

Oct 23, 2006, 7:26 AM

WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

Oct 23, 2006, 2:29 PM

Wow the Bell centre looks nasty! I miss the Forum.

#11.

http://pound.med.utoronto.ca/~philipp/toronto2004/toronto_120_large.jpg

Dalreg

Oct 23, 2006, 4:48 PM

In Toronto there's also Ricoh and SkyDome they have to compete with, and that's just in downtown alone.

where else in NYC are you gonna put arena events ? closest place is Long Island or the swamp of new jersey

Meadowlands is maybe 5 miles from MSG as the crow flies. Radio city music hall seats in the 7000 range for concerts. As for Ricoh they are not on the list so obviously not that busy.

As for Toronto. Maybe they don't get enough events. Or the events are not well attended. However on this list they are not top dog.

Gdoggy

Oct 24, 2006, 9:08 PM

habsfan

Oct 25, 2006, 12:08 AM

Wow the Bell centre looks nasty! I miss the Forum.

I'll be the fiorst one to admit that the Bell Centre Does look like crap from the outside. I hate the PUKE beige colour of the brick.

However, we all know that its the inside that counts!

Jay in Cowtown

Nov 5, 2006, 7:22 AM

From what I've seen through the internet... the ACC is a good looking arena in a great location... and I hate complimenting anything in Toronto!

but the Staples Center is better.

Deez

Nov 5, 2006, 5:07 PM

What the hell is Uncasville Conn.? And why does it house the #10 venue?

Not close to Hartford or the NYC metro.

samne

Nov 5, 2006, 6:02 PM

What the hell is Uncasville Conn.? And why does it house the #10 venue?

Not close to Hartford or the NYC metro.

Mohegan Sun is the most popular casino in the NE. They have the WNBA, concerts, shows.

WhipperSnapper

Nov 5, 2006, 8:23 PM

In Toronto there's also Ricoh and SkyDome they have to compete with, and that's just in downtown alone.

The Amphitheatre is huge as well

Dalreg

Nov 6, 2006, 1:55 AM

I don't see RCMH on the list either, relatively small for a concert of any magnitude, so it's sucking much business from MSG.

Pretty meaningless list in any case, unless you count all tickets to all events it's pointless.

So I'm a concert promoter. Should I look to see the attendance of the sport teams or should I check to see the numbers for concert type events? Hmmmmmm.

I guess I should check the sports numbers.:koko:

matt602

Nov 6, 2006, 3:53 AM

You know Hamilton has got some catching up to do when Copps didn't even make it on the list, being beaten out by arena's in cities that almost nobody has heard of. I can't blame the makers of the list, Copps is a disgrace to the city.

Boomtown_Hamilton

Nov 7, 2006, 7:39 AM

Ummm, How come Hamilton is not on the list???

Boomtown_Hamilton

Nov 8, 2006, 9:39 AM

I remember back when Copps Coliseum had just finished being built, the first few years they were really packing it in down at the Copps Coliseum...as a matter of fact I remember reading in the local Hamilton Spectator that Copps Coliseum had made #1 spot on that list at least a couple of time....and this was back in the day when they had a fella named Gabe Macaluso running HECFI which stands for Hamilton Entertainment Converntion Facilities which looks after such places like Hamilton Place auditorium and the Copps Coloseum Arena....he was doing a hell of a job bringing in the Rock Concerts, Wrestling matches, Monster trucks and various conventions and trade shows but then all of a sudden something happened along the way...we all found out that Gabe Macaluso was dipping into the company's profits and feeding his Gambling addictions....was a huge scandal in Hamilton and then he was relieved of his duties....and since then they haven't been doing nearly as good a job as he was in luring in the acts and shows to the downtown Arena...what he did was bad by stealing the company's profits and spending it at the casinos but one thing is for damn sure...he did a good job bringing in the business to the Copps Coliseum...and for whatever reason the City of Hamilton hasn't replaced him with someone capable of bringing in alot of these big time events and shows we use to get here in town on a regular basis

BlackRedGold

Nov 8, 2006, 3:20 PM

and for whatever reason the City of Hamilton hasn't replaced him with someone capable of bringing in alot of these big time events and shows we use to get here in town on a regular basis

I think it became harder for Copps Coliseum to get big events once the Air Canada Centre opened up. Before that Copps Coliseum was superior to MLG and some acts would perform at the CC as a result but the ACC is superior to Copps Coliseum leaving major acts in the Golden Horseshoe to perform there instead.

SteelTown

Nov 8, 2006, 3:25 PM

Still get good concerts at Copps like this week Elton John was at Copps

Boomtown_Hamilton

Nov 9, 2006, 10:38 AM

Still get good concerts at Copps like this week Elton John was at Copps

I've noticed though the last few months that HECFI has been doing much better job of promoting their facilities (Copps Coliseum, Hamilton Place Auditorium and the Convention Centre)....like you've said last week we had 16,000 for the Elton John concert we have INXS scheduled to appear there I think next week, Blue Rodeo and the Tragically Hip on schedule as well and Monster Trucks making come back and in 2008 we will be hosting the Brier once again although that's a sports-related event and wouldn't count on this list that we're talking about here.....but again HECFI has been on some sort of a marketing blitz lately like we use to see them do back in the day when the Copps Coliseum was completed........

The other factors you have to bring into consideration is not only A.C.C. up the road in Toronto and the Ricoh Coliseum but as well we get bombarded with Ads in the Spectator advertising concerts to go to at Casino Niagara and Casino Rama; both of which were not around in the 1980s and early 1990s when the Copps Coliseum made it to #1 on the list.....still I think after Gabe Macaluso was relieved of his duties with HECFI we saw a real dip downwards in the number of events that were booked for the Copps Coliseum....it looks to be on the rebound though......I'd like to see how this list looks like next season to see if Copps cracks the list again.

SteelTown

Nov 9, 2006, 2:37 PM

I think the Avalon Ballroom at Niagara Falls is a big threat to Southern Ontario's entertainment business especially Hamilton and Toronto. It's a great ballroom for a concert. It's small well not too small and very interactive.

I went last year and I had a great time. Comfortable chairs, must be at least 5 inches of cushion, waiters comes around serving you drinks (wonderful!), and everything is so close.

Avalon Ballroom
http://www.michaelsinn.com/images/avalon-ballroom.jpg

Wish I had one of those in my city.

Boomtown_Hamilton

Nov 10, 2006, 12:54 PM

We could have had one of those if we still had the Tivoli Theatre on James street and renovated it.....Hamilton use to have alot of Grand Theatres scatterdd throughout the downtown core.

zerokarma

Nov 10, 2006, 6:04 PM

Ummm, How come Hamilton is not on the list???

because its hamilton, enough said

WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

Nov 10, 2006, 6:24 PM

Dalreg

Nov 10, 2006, 6:55 PM

Keep in mind that at the Air Canada Centre they house both the NHL and NBA. The set up and tear down eat into times that could otherwise be used for other events. To advocate that Toronto has tribulations selling out entertainment events is laughable.

Like I have stated before other arenas on the list host NBA and NHL and yet they are higher than Toronto on the list. So that is no excuse.

Jay in Cowtown

Nov 10, 2006, 7:10 PM

Keep in mind that at the Air Canada Centre they house both the NHL and NBA. The set up and tear down eat into times that could otherwise be used for other events. To advocate that Toronto has tribulations selling out entertainment events is laughable.

I noticed last night on Sportsnet that the AHL Marlies were playing Omaha at ACC too... do they always play there, or only when the Leafs and Raptors are outta town?

WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

Nov 10, 2006, 8:30 PM

That was a first I think. And Darleg, being #11 on a list of the world is pretty damn good.

Dalreg

Nov 10, 2006, 10:13 PM

Never said it was bad. But it can be better.

Boomtown_Hamilton

Nov 14, 2006, 5:56 AM

because its hamilton, enough said

I'm not too sure what you meant by that comment....could you please expand some more on the point that you were trying to get across here???

SteelTown

Nov 14, 2006, 2:36 PM

He’s not a fan of Hamilton so just ignore it lol

Boomtown_Hamilton

Nov 15, 2006, 11:32 AM

He’s not a fan of Hamilton so just ignore it lol

That part is obvious and I'm not trying to start anything bad here I'm always curious to find out from the people from outside of Hamilton why they have such a negative view of the City?....Have they been to Hamilton before?...If so, did they have a bad experience here?....

I think Hamilton is a great town but our politicians and business leaders do a lousy job of promoting all the good things we have going for it....I am open to some constructive criticism from others on how we can improve Hamilton even from someone that says something like "because it's Hamilton enough said."

Rye $ingh

Nov 19, 2006, 2:27 AM

I am surprised at the rankings, Montreal that high, didnt know it was that popular, but on the other side GM Place ouch, i thought that was up there.

Greco Roman

Dec 6, 2006, 5:21 PM

Gotta love that MTS Centre. Really puts Winnipeg on the map. Keep up the good work !

:cheers:

big W

Dec 6, 2006, 6:32 PM

Shotime you keep mentioning availability as a big issue. For who? Edmonton has no more sporting events than anyone else yet it is obviously used a lot less than most of the arenas on the list. Hence the lower numbers.

If anything this maybe lets promoters that there could be more potential in that market.

Not nessessaraly as it is only one venue in the market. Remeber that all venues need to be considered. For instance the agricom right next to Rexall always has events as does Reds in West Edmonton Mall, Winspear Centre downtown has concerts, and the U of A has events etc. Concert promoters would look at the entire market and not just one venue in that market.

Anyways the stats are intresting as stated earlier for each of the arenas.

Greco Roman

Dec 6, 2006, 6:35 PM

Not nessessaraly as it is only one venue in the market. Remeber that all venues need to be considered. For instance the agricom right next to Rexall always has events as does Reds in West Edmonton Mall, the U of A has events etc. Concert promoters would look at the entire market and not just one venue in that market.

Anyways the stats are intresting as stated earlier.

That's true for many cities; most larger urban centres have places to host concerts and such other than just the "arenas", but the bigger venues get most of the "action".

osmo

Dec 9, 2006, 9:50 AM

copps is old and run down and hamilton is to close to toronto.. why go to hamilton if u can spend a lil more cash and be in the largerst market in canada..i agree with the whole ALG thing .. b4 ALG was a moldy hockey church and wasnt good for events at all thats why hamilton saw its boost.. then air canada opened up with all the things events need and took all of copps bizzness away

well if they dont count major sports then a arena isnt going to have as many days open to book out right? co nhl and nba citys have it tought

MSG is the only THE ONLY large sized venue in the immidaite NY area (manhattan) its booked evrey day of the year it seems.. thats why it made so much sence they were so agianst the jets/olympic stadium idea for the west sid it would of robbed alot of there bizzness

Dalreg

Dec 9, 2006, 6:04 PM