Features
Metallica Smashes Attendance Records Across Europe
Metallica smashed attendance records at almost all venues during the European leg of its current WorldWired tour, according to promoter Live Nation, thanks to its unique stage configuration.
TAIT – Metallica
photo courtesy of TAIT, which is handling stage technology on the band
The stage used on the tour’s European leg is standing in the round. This allows for a greater capacity in the standing areas, which is why most arenas were able to outsell their official capacities. (See Metallica: ‘A High Tech Family Gathering‘)
The tour kicked off with two dates at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome, Sept. 4-6, grossing $2,773,274 in total. According to Live Nation, 16,853 fans came on the first night, with 16,856 attending on the second, totaling 33,709. This marks an attendance record for Ziggo Dome, and the figure lies 211 guests above the venue’s official sold-out capacity for two shows, which is 33,498.
Metallica then graced France with its presence at three shows, Sept. 8-12, two at Paris’ AccorHotels Arena and one at Lyon’s
Next stop: Germany, where Lanxess Arena welcomed 18,446 and 18,483 visitors on Sept. 14 and 16, respectively. The arena’s official capacity is 18,163, but due to the production of the European leg of Metallica’s Worldwired tour, there was more space available than usual.
A Lanxess Arena rep told Pollstar: “You could already feel the audience’s anticipation on both days during admission. It developed into two magical metal nights none of the attendees will forget in a hurry. That it turned out to be Metallica, of all people, who now lead the list of records at Lanxess Arena, makes us very happy, of course. But we’re obviously hoping to break this attendance record again soon.”
In London, too, the band set a record on the first night, Oct. 22, and smashed their own record on Oct. 24, when 22,211 people came to see the rock icons at The O2. The arena had recently tweaked its seating configuration, including the addition of the new Amazon Lounges and The Deck. Coupled with the staging configuration and suites at full capacity the number was reached.
13,111 people at Glasgow’s The SSE Hydro on Oct. 26 also marked a new high for the Scottish arena, which has an official capacity of 12,748. Back in England, Metallica took the stage at Manchester Arena, Oct. 28, with a record attendance of 20,048 according to Live Nation, followed by Birmingham’s Genting Arena, where 15,604 people came – also an attendance record.
The two final records – for now – were set Nov. 1-3 at two shows at Belgium’s Sportpaleis in Antwerp. 22,616 people attended on the first, 22,626 came on the second night, Live Nation said.
– Metallica
Worldwired Tour, with stage technology handled by TAIT
The WorldWired tour will continue on Feb.1 at Portugal’s 20,000 capacity Altice Arena (formerly MEO Arena) in Lisbon, before moving on to Spain for three dates, two at Madrid’s 17,000 capacity Wizink Center and one at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, which holds almost 18,000.
Metallica will continue to tour Europe until May 11, passing through Italy, Denmark, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and even revisiting Germany for six dates.