Within the first full yr of monitoring for the reason that pandemic, New York’s Madison Sq. Backyard (MSG) returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s year-end Prime Venues (15,001+ capability) chart. However greater than that, MSG is the highest-grossing venue of any measurement or form, eclipsing all stadiums, arenas, theaters and golf equipment. In line with figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, Madison Sq. Backyard hosted 124 exhibits in the course of the monitoring interval, combining to $241.4 million and 1.8 million tickets.
For these following Billboard’s month-to-month Boxscore charts, MSG’s No. 1 end shouldn’t be an enormous shock. The world led the month-to-month venue chart in February, August and September, the final of which was a record-setter for the most important one-month sum for a venue for the reason that month-to-month rankings launched in early 2019. MSG’s 22 September exhibits raked in a mixed $64.3 million.
MSG appeared on the 10-position chart for 10 of the yr’s 12 months, solely lacking in January and March. In any other case, together with its three months at No. 1, it spent half of the yr within the prime three.
With 124 exhibits, MSG’s calendar was packed. Nonetheless, some heavy hitters can take some credit score for its final triumph. Harry Kinds, No. 1 on the year-end Prime Boxscores chart, led the cost together with his mammoth 15-show residency. The exhibits collectively grossed $63.1 million and bought 277,000 tickets between Aug. 20 and Sept. 21, a key issue within the venue’s month-to-month wins.
And whereas they’re considered particular person engagements, Billy Joel’s ongoing residency continued with 11 exhibits in the course of the monitoring yr – one present in every month aside from January, throughout a largely darkish interval amid the Omicron wave. His exhibits mixed to $29.6 million and 205,000 tickets bought. That signifies that Kinds and Joel’s 26 exhibits accounted for $92.7 million, or 39% of the venue’s whole annual gross.
Following Kinds atop the heap, Phish ($8.8 million), Rage Towards the Machine ($8.2 million), Elton John ($6.9 million) and Genesis ($5.3 million) spherical out MSG’s prime 5 grossing live performance engagements of the yr with multi-show runs. Primarily based on attendance, Kinds leads Phish (76,000), Rage Towards the Machine (71,000), John Mulaney (42,000) and Luke Combs (36,000).
MSG grew to become the primary venue to earn greater than $200 million in a yr when it closed out 2019 with $221.7 million. The world reaches new heights three years later, however contemplating 2020 and 2021 have been shortened as a consequence of COVID, its personal document re-set is actually instant. The $241.4 million gross is the most important for any venue in a single yr.
Whereas Boxscore charts date again to the late ‘80s, year-end venue charts launched in 1999. In these 24 years, MSG has led the cost amongst venues with a capability of 15,001 or extra in 14 of these years. After beginning at No. 6 in 1999, MSG was No. 1 for 9 consecutive years from 2000-2008. It then floated across the prime 10 whereas London’s O2 Area assumed the throne from 2009-2016, falling one yr wanting MSG’s document ‘00s-era reign.
MSG regained the title for 2017-2020, slipped to No. 2 final yr behind Las Vegas’ T-Cellular Area, and returns to the summit for 2022.
