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Billy Joel To End Madison Square Garden Residency In 2024
After 10 years and 150 shows, Billy Joel announced next July will see the end of his residency at Madison Square Garden. The first of the final 10 shows begins on Oct. 20, with the run concluding in July 2024.
“I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did,” Joel said during a press conference at Madison Square Garden. “I do remember the first time we played Madison Square Garden, it was the pinnacle of my career. I thought, ‘My God, I’m headlining Madison Square Garden.’ Everybody in the world knows when you play The Garden, it’s not just New York. To our audience, I want to thank them for coming to our shows for this long. It’s hard to end, even at 150 lifetime shows. I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful thing that’s happened here.”
This year alone, Billy Joel has performed at Madison Square Garden five times with three reported dates to Pollstar’s Boxoffice totaling 55,103 tickets sold grossing $9.06 million. Since beginning his residency on Jan. 27, 2014, Billy Joel has reported 89 shows with a total of 1,656,265 tickets sold grossing $207,751,097, per Pollstar’s Boxoffice.
“Billy Joel’s franchise run has made history — not only for Madison Square Garden, but also for the music industry overall,” James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at MSG Entertainment, said. “150 sold out lifetime shows is a remarkable achievement, and speaks to Billy’s extraordinary talent, beloved catalog, and dedicated fanbase. Billy always has a home here at MSG even though the residency is coming to an end with his 150th lifetime performance.”
Joel’s residency began in 2014, becoming The Garden’s first-ever music franchise. He began the shows in January 2014, returning to the venue for “as long as the demand continues.” The venue’s rafters feature banners celebrating both his record of “most consecutive performances by any artist” and “most lifetime performances by an artist,” the two being replaced each month as he continues breaking his record.
“There’s only one thing that’s more New York than Billy Joel — and that’s a Billy Joel concert at MSG,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “For more than 50 years, Billy’s music has defined our city and brought us together. On behalf of 8.5 million New Yorkers, congratulations, Billy, on a historic run of sold-out shows at MSG, and thank you for your lifetime of bringing joy to all us all.”
Tickets for the final 10 shows of Joel’s run go on sale starting June 9 at 10 a.m. ET, with Citi cardmembers gaining access to presale running from June 5 at 10 a.m. ET through June 8 at 10 p.m. ET. Fans can also pick up tickets at the Madison Square Garden box office on June 10.