Lisbon Rocks Ahead Of Madrid

The Lisbon edition of this year’s Rock In Rio pulled 353,000 but the Spanish leg in Madrid was a day shorter and pulled nearly 70,000 less than in 2010.

Two years ago, 329,000 came to the Portuguese event, while a five-day Spanish Rock In Rio drew 250,000.

“The numbers were always lower in Spain,” said Patrícia Gonçalves of Lift Consulting, which looks after Rock In Rio’s public relations.

The first staging of the event in Lisbon in 2004 attracted 386,000 visitors, followed by 350,000 in 2006 and 354,000 in 2008.

Rock In Rio in Madrid started in 2008 and pulled 291,000.

This year the best-selling day in Lisbon was May 26, when 83,000 came for a bill topped by Linkin Park and Smashing Pumpkins. A day earlier Metallica drew a crowd of 42,000.

The second run of dates began June 1 with a 74,000 crowd for Maroon 5 and Lenny Kravitz, followed by 73,000 for Bryan Adams and Stevie Wonder, before Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band ran Linkin Park and Smashing Pumpkin close by pulling 81,000.

On June 30 Maná attracted 45,000 to the purpose-built festival site just outside the Spanish capital but, on the opening day of the three-date run July 5, the numbers took a knock when Rihanna pulled out due to the death of her grandmother.

Carl Cox filled in at short notice but only 25,000 came though the gate.

On July 6 Pitbull brought in 61,000 and the following day’s closing concert from Red Hot Chili Peppers drew 55,000.