Sacramento, Calif. – Pollstar, the concert industry’s leading trade publication covering worldwide touring, events and venues, recently released data unveiling the top tours of 2017. Golden 1 Center in Sacramento hosted half of the world’s biggest tours since opening in October 2016, creating a new home for world-class entertainment in Downtown Sacramento. In Pollstar’s final tallies for 2017, Golden 1 Center sold over 470,000 tickets for major concerts and shows, earning the venue the highest spot for a recently constructed arena, as well as the 14th US arena and 34th in the world.
“The world’s biggest acts have a new stage to call home,” said Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “Golden 1 Center is a must-play for artists of every genre, creating an epicenter of entertainment for the city of Sacramento and Northern California.”
The list of twenty shows includes iconic performers, pop and rock’s hottest acts, and country legends. Performers who visited Sacramento include:
- Iconic artists and groups: Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and Guns N’Roses,
- Country legends: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill,
- and Pop music trendsetters: Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande.
Of the ten remaining acts, three groups predominantly play larger outdoor (stadium) concerts, one was exclusively European dates, and another featured a temporary residence in Las Vegas – combined with an arena tour – this year. Two acts on the list played Sacramento recently, before the new downtown arena opened (2015 and 2016,) and three others worked with the venue, but could not schedule a show due to Golden 1 Center’s packed game and concert calendar.
Golden 1 Center has created a once-in-a-generation spark in Downtown Sacramento through events, entertainment, culture and more. In its first year, the arena hosted over 350 events – including 42 concerts — which have brought 1.6 million visitors throughout the Downtown area. The arena sits at the center of $2 billion in urban investment, sparking nearly an additional $1 billion in real estate transactions and an uptick of downtown visitors enjoying Central City restaurants and retailers while utilizing City parking garages and meters.
In comparison, Sleep Train Arena hosted only one of the top twenty touring acts in its final full year of operation (2015). The venue had outlived its lifespan and could not support the needs of new shows, including advanced rigging, pitch-perfect acoustics, and complex stage load-in and setup.
Read Pollstar’s top twenty list and its year end edition, including ticket sales data.
For more information on Golden 1 Center’s impact on Sacramento, read the recent report by Downtown Sacramento Partnership.
