Concert Market Rankings: No. 7 Dallas / Fort Worth

Everyone knows things are just bigger in Texas, and the Dallas / Fort Worth market may be the perfect example. Already pulling its weight as a top concert market in the country and fourth-largest metro, DFW is growing rapidly and is poised to continue. From 2010 to 2020 the region grew at a staggering clip of 20%, and is forecasted to grow by as much as another 18% by the time 2030 rolls around, with one of the nation’s largest concentrations of tech companies. 

Known for warm weather and long summers, recent reports predictably show a lot of outdoor activity, with Dos Equis Pavilion, The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory and AT&T Stadium particularly active. Major shows include the Jonas Brothers selling 19,103 tickets and grossing $1.56 million at Dos Equis Pavilion, not to mention stadium smashes from Los Bukis (AT&T Stadium, $5.40 million grossed) and The Rolling Stones (Cotton Bowl Stadium, $8.97 million). 

However, in 2021 the region saw lots of indoor activity as well, with Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena hosting the likes of Eric Clapton, KISS, ZZ Top, James Taylor and more, while Dallas’ American Airlines Center had top draws such as Trevor Noah and Harry Styles, as well as the region’s highest-grossing arena report, a two-night Eagles run that grossed $4.84 million.

“We’ve proven that Fort Worth is a top market,” says Dickies Arena president and GM Matt Homan. “We’re getting the big shows and promoters are finding out they can do both American Airlines Center and Dickies Arena.”

At the smaller indoor level, 6,000-cap Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth remains active after being one of the first and only venues in the country to host shows in 2020. The venue reopened in August of that year and hosted major touring artists such as Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett in spring 2021.

The new Live Nation/Mark Cuban-backed 1,000-capacity Echo Lounge in Dallas opened in December with a Sting show. The venue sits next to the Dallas Mavericks practice facility and is a short drive from American Airlines Center. 

Check out Pollstar’s inaugural Concert Market Rankings chart at the link below:
https://www.pollstar.com/Chart/2022/01/First%20CMR%20Jan%202022_997.pdf