Based on box office figures during the first half of this year, the SMG-managed Van Andel Arena ranks as a top venue in mid-year charts compiled by entertainment industry publications Billboard, Pollstar, and Venues Today.
“Being listed as high as we are in these three industry publications is yet again a great honor,” said Richard MacKeigan, SMG’s Regional General Manager for Van Andel Arena® and DeVos Place®, of the news. “But just being consistently listed is the greater accomplishment. The entire SMG staff is delighted with our venue’s rating. We are proud to work at Van Andel Arena and proud to work in Grand Rapids. These rankings are a testament to the incredible support we continue to receive from our community, the great promoters we work with and the value of the SMG network.”
Van Andel Arena has had a terrific year so far in 2011 (from October 16, 2010 through June 30, 2011) with 36 shows, six of which were sellouts. Sellout events included Trans-Siberian Orchestra (twice), Winter Jam, Lady Gaga, Kid Rock, and Bob Seger.
Billboard
Billboard Magazine has ranked Van Andel Arena as the sixth highest grossing arena ($9,605,146) worldwide with a 10,001-15,000 seating capacity. The top five venues ranked are all overseas, making Van Andel Arena the No. 1 venue in North America. The rankings came from gross figures compiled between November 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011. The list was published in the July 30, 2011 issue.
Another SMG-managed building to make the list was Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, just behind Van Andel Arena at seventh.
Billboard Magazine has served the information needs of the entertainment business since 1894. Today, that means a core focus on the music business, providing charts, data, analysis, profiles, news and trend reporting for aspiring artists, top executives, tour promoters, publishers, radio programmers, lawyers, retailers and others. In the past few years, Billboard has committed to providing information and insight for the new industries that have sought opportunities in music, such as advertising, film, television, digital and mobile.
Pollstar
Van Andel Arena placed at number 55 worldwide on Pollstar Magazine’s Top 100 Arena Venues of all sizes in the July 18, 2011 issue. This ranking is based on an attendance of 102,525, as reported to Pollstar for shows played between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011.
In addition to Van Andel Arena’s no. 55 position, other SMG-managed buildings ranked in Pollstar’s Top 100, including The Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England in fifth; Coliseo De Puerto Rico in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico at eighth; BOK Center in Tulsa, OK at 37th; and Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA at 47th.
Pollstar is the only trade publication covering the worldwide concert industry. For more than 25 years Pollstar has provided music business professionals with the most reliable and accurate source of worldwide concert tour schedules, ticket sales results, music industry contact directories, trade news and unique specialized data services. Pollstar also publishes the concert industry’s leading trade publication.
Venues Today
Venues Today has named Van Andel Arena the sixth highest grossing arena ($8,474,485) worldwide with 10,001-15,000 seating capacity in the July 2011 issue. The Top Spot ranking is based on concert and event grosses, as reported to Venues Today from October 16, 2010 through May 15, 2011.
A few other SMG-managed arenas showed up on the top ten following Van Andel Arena, including INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas at eighth. Save Mart Center in Fresno, California came in at ninth followed by Long Beach Arena (Ca.) at tenth. Peoria (Ill.) Civic Center Arena is at 12 while Jacksonville (Fla.) Veterans Memorial Arena showed up at 14. North Charleston (S.C.) Coliseum came up at 17 and DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. is at 18.
DeVos Performance Hall also showed up on the Venues Today listing. DeVos Performance Hall, the only Michigan venue that hosts up to four different professional arts groups, came in 19th on the Top Spot list for venues of 2,001-5,000 capacity with a gross of $4,799,974. DeVos Performance Hall was followed at 20 by East Lansing’s Wharton Center for Performing Arts while fellow SMG–managed Orpheum Theater in Omaha, Nebraska came in at 14.
Venues Today is a leading international trade publication that covers the business side of entertainment and sports, particularly as it relates to venues. Readers include managers, owners, operators and bookers of arenas, amphitheaters, stadiums, performing arts centers, convention centers, fairgrounds and equestrian centers.
