5 top-grossing tours that hit Milwaukee in 2017
With a new $524 million arena opening its doors this fall, a big question remains: Will Milwaukee land more blockbuster tours?
So far, Maroon 5 is the only band booked for the Milwaukee Bucks’ new venue, with more announcements expected soon.
But even without a shiny new arena, Milwaukee still hosted five of the world’s 20 top-grossing tours of 2017, according to concert trade publication Pollstar, including the year’s No. 2 touring act.
Three of those five played the 30year-old BMO Harris Bradley Center. Another huge touring artist — Billy Joel — also came to Wisconsin, for a Lambeau Field show June 17. And Milwaukee has seen a few of the top 20 within the past few years, including Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran and Garth Brooks.
But these were the five top-grossing worldwide tours that settled in Milwaukee for a night in 2017. (By the way, the top-grossing act was U2, which hasn’t played Milwaukee since 2005.) 1. Guns N’ Roses Top-grossing tours ranking: 2 Total gross: $292.5 million Tickets sold: 2,679,962
Number of shows: 81
Average concert gross: $3,953,322 Milwaukee date/venue: Nov. 7, BMO Harris Bradley Center
What we said: “If you’re a band looking to make amends for years of devastating dysfunction and disappointment, a killer three-hourand-20-minute concert — with no intermission — is a good way to do it.”
2. Roger Waters Top-grossing tours ranking: 13 Total gross: $92.1 million
Tickets sold: 756,189
Number of shows: 63
Average concert gross: $2,002,093 Milwaukee date/venue: July 29, Bradley Center
What we said: “At 73, Waters is still an impactful, even daring, auteur in concert, as much as he is a rock star. Strictly in terms of technical presentation, the show was second to none.”
3. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Top-grossing tours ranking: 17 Total gross: $79.3 million Tickets sold: 931,959
Number of shows: 79
Average concert gross: $1,133,135 Milwaukee date/venue: June 16, Bradley Center
What we said: “Hill and McGraw effectively presented their love and talent as musical entertainment.” — Jon M. Gilbertson, Special to the Journal Sentinel
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers Top-grossing tours ranking: 18 Total gross: $73.5 million
Tickets sold: 882,035
Number of shows: 67
Average concert gross: 1,267,241 Milwaukee date/venue: June 28, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest
What we said: “The Red Hot Chili Peppers haven’t been ‘red hot’ for about a decade. But kicking off Summerfest’s 50th edition … the Peppers proved it still packs plenty of heat as a live act.”
5. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Top-grossing tours ranking: 20 Total gross: $64.7 million
Tickets sold: 693,192
Number of shows: 46
Average concert gross: $1,701,815 Milwaukee dates/venue: July 5 and 6, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest
What we said: “The show ended with ‘American Girl’ and Petty’s bright white smile peering out from his facial scruff. The joy on his face suggests his talk of ending major touring likely will be just talk. If not, this was a fitting farewell from a Summerfest favorite.”