Mt Smart Stadium, located in Auckland, New Zealand, is a multi-purpose stadium that is primarily used to host sporting events like rugby league and soccer matches. However, Mt Smart is also a popular venue for hosting major concerts thanks to its large capacity.
Mt Smart Stadium Concert Capacity
When configured for a concert, Mt Smart Stadium can hold approximately 45,000 people. This makes it the largest concert venue in New Zealand. Some of the biggest musical acts in the world have performed concerts at Mt Smart due to its huge capacity.
The stadium can be configured in a few different ways to accommodate anywhere from 20,000 people up to 45,000 for the largest concerts. For smaller concerts, only a portion of the seats may be made available. For the biggest shows, the whole stadium gets opened up and floor seating is added down on the field.
Here are the different concert configurations and capacities at Mt Smart:
Configuration | Capacity |
---|---|
Full stadium + field seating | 45,000 |
Full stadium seating only | 36,000 |
Partial stadium seating | 20,000 – 30,000 |
As you can see, Mt Smart offers tremendous flexibility when it comes to concert capacity. Event promoters can work with stadium management to configure the venue to perfectly suit the expected audience size.
Notable Concerts at Mt Smart Stadium
Mt Smart has hosted some legendary concerts thanks to its huge potential capacity. Here are some of the most notable concerts that have taken place there over the years:
- U2 – The Joshua Tree Tour – November 1993
- Michael Jackson – HIStory World Tour – November 1996
- Rolling Stones – Bridges to Babylon Tour – March 1998
- Robbie Williams – Close Encounters Tour – April 2006
- Madonna – Sticky & Sweet Tour – February 2016
- Ed Sheeran – Divide Tour – March 2018
As you can see, Mt Smart has hosted the biggest superstars in music from rock legends like the Rolling Stones to pop icons like Madonna. The stadium provides the opportunity for musicians to perform for massive crowds upwards of 45,000 fans.
In November 1993, U2 played at Mt Smart during their Joshua Tree tour in support of the album of the same name. With the concert configured for maximum capacity, they performed for approximately 45,000 ecstatic fans.
When Michael Jackson came to Mt Smart in November 1996 as part of his globetrotting HIStory tour, he danced and sang his way through the massive setlist of hits like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” in front of a sold-out crowd.
The Rolling Stones rocked the stadium in 1998 while touring to support their Bridges to Babylon album. Promoters took advantage of the full capacity to allow over 45,000 fans the chance to watch Mick Jagger’s legendary gyrations up close.
In 2006, Mt Smart provided the backdrop for Robbie Williams to entertain 36,000 fans during his Close Encounters tour. Fans were treated to his hits like “Angels” as well as big spectacle production numbers.
More recently, Mt Smart hosted Ed Sheeran in 2018 as part of his massively popular Divide tour. The capacity allowed the singer-songwriter to play for 45,000 adoring fans on back to back nights.
The stadium has also been a site for major music festivals like Big Day Out and Vodafone Homegrown. Its capacity allows these events to host a huge range of artists and for more people to enjoy the festivals.
Factors That Enable Large Capacity
There are a few key factors that enable Mt Smart to accommodate such large crowds for concerts:
- Massive size – The stadium has a total area of 48,000 sq meters.
- Surrounding infrastructure – Nearby roads and transit can handle large crowds.
- Field access – The grass playing field allows for floor seating.
- Advanced staging – Large concerts use extensive staging and video screens.
- Strategic seating configurations – Seats can be blocked off to fit expected demand.
With a total area approaching 50,000 square meters, there is simply a lot of physical space to work with at Mt Smart. This enables concert promoters to get creative with stage and audience floorplan configurations tailored to each show.
The area surrounding the stadium also has the capacity to handle the crowds. Britomart Transport Station is nearby, providing public transport access. And the web of roads and highways near the venue provide ample access for concert goers driving to the stadium.
The grass playing field also provides the ability to add general admission floor seating for the really big concerts. With strategic placement of the stage, the field can accommodate tens of thousands of additional attendees on the ground.
Modern concerts also rely heavily on giant video screens and elaborate staging. Mt Smart Stadium has advanced facilities to allow for massive screens and rigging options for lighting and effects. This creates an immersive experience for audiences, even those seated farther back.
Finally, strategic seating configurations also enable show-specific capacity optimization. Seats can be blocked off if a concert is expected to draw a smaller crowd. Or if demand is expected to be high, more areas can be opened up to ensure even the biggest acts can play for full houses.
Record Attendance
The record attendance for a concert at Mt Smart Stadium was set at the U2 show in 1993 as part of their Zoo TV tour. That show drew approximately 47,000 fans.
This surpassed New Zealand’s previous record concert attendance of 46,189 which was set earlier that same year when U2 passed through Mt Smart on an earlier leg of the tour.
The Joshua Tree portion of the tour returned to Mt Smart in November 1993 after already setting the new benchmark earlier in the year. For the November show, the promoters managed to squeeze in even more people, likely owing to some fine tuning of the floorplan and stage setup.
While many other major acts have played sold out shows at Mt Smart since, U2 remains the record holder for highest attendance at the venue.
Here are some key facts about the record-setting 1993 U2 show:
- Date: November 27, 1993
- Tour: Zoo TV (in support of “Achtung Baby”)
- Attendance: Approximately 47,000
- Revenue: NZD $2.9 million
- Setlist: Marathon 28 songs performed
This show took place during the Australasian leg of the sprawling Zoo TV world tour. After already visiting New Zealand earlier in 1993, U2 returned as part of the tour’s “Zoomerang” portion which hit Australia and New Zealand again.
The extra capacity from the earlier 1993 show allowed the band to earn over NZD $2.9 million in revenue from this single performance. The late November timing also meant they performed in more pleasant summer-like conditions.
With 28 songs performed and a setlist loaded with hits, it was a big reward for fans who scored the scarce tickets. From the early era “Sunday Bloody Sunday” to newer singles like “Even Better Than the Real Thing” off Achtung Baby, the show had it all.
Thanks to their creative vision and team, U2 leveraged Mt Smart’s full capabilities to deliver an iconic record-setting show still remembered fondly today by those in attendance. It demonstrated the stadium’s credibility for hosting the biggest bands in the world.
Other Notable Attendance Marks
In addition to U2’s record concert crowd, there have been other notable attendance milestones set over Mt Smart Stadium’s history:
- The Rolling Stones drew 44,000 fans in 1998.
- Ricky Martin performed for a crowd of 35,000 in 1999.
- Robbie Williams entertained 36,000 people in 2006.
- AC/DC rocked in front of 40,000 fans in 2010.
The Rolling Stones concert in 1998 during their Bridges to Babylon tour drew a massive crowd approaching the stadium’s capacity. With legendary status and legions of longtime NZ fans, they remain one of the few acts that could rival U2’s record.
Latin pop sensation Ricky Martin’s 1999 performance demonstrated Mt Smart’s ability to host international pop stars and not just legacy rock acts. Drawing 35,000 young fans showed the venue’s crossover demographic appeal.
Robbie Williams highlighted Mt Smart’s ability to accommodate top-tier global pop stars of the modern era when he filled the stadium with 36,000 gleeful fans in 2006.
Hard rock heroes AC/DC rolled through in 2010 on their Black Ice World Tour, proving Mt Smart can rock just as hard as it can pop. Their crowd of 40,000 fans was hungry for classics like “Back in Black” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”
While U2 still holds the record, these other epic shows have joined the history books with attendance numbers approaching stadium capacity. They’ve shown that Mt Smart can deliver for icons across genres.
Future Concert Potential
Mt Smart Stadium remains well positioned to continue hosting massive concerts in the coming years. Here are some reasons why the future looks bright:
- Ongoing stadium improvements and renovations
- New major acts emerge regularly
- Music festivals expand in scope and popularity
- Surging concert industry growth worldwide
Stadium management invests continually in upgrades to ensure Mt Smart provides a world-class facility for audiences and performers alike. Recent enhancements include improved audiovisual capabilities and expanded corporate hospitality offerings.
The concert industry pipeline remains strong as new globally popular recording artists emerge frequently. Mt Smart gives these acts an opportunity to play for a huge New Zealand audience when they tour.
Large scale music festivals continue to grow rapidly as live events become more central to the industry. Mt Smart is sure to remain a top festival venue with the ability to serve tens of thousands of attendees.
And overall, demand for live concert experiences keeps growing worldwide. New generations of music fans are hungry for the energy and excitement of seeing their favorite artists perform up close in person.
Considering all these trends, Mt Smart seems poised to continue hosting world-class concerts for maximum capacity crowds. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a new attendance record set in the coming years!
Conclusions
In summary:
- Mt Smart Stadium can hold between 20,000 to 45,000 people for concerts depending on configuration.
- It has hosted legendary shows from acts like U2, Michael Jackson, and the Rolling Stones.
- Massive size, field access, and strategic seating enable large crowds.
- U2 holds the attendance record of 47,000 set in 1993.
- Ongoing upgrades and music industry growth point to a bright future.
With a capacity exceeding most venues worldwide, Mt Smart will continue giving bands the opportunity to play for huge audiences in New Zealand. Music fans can look forward to more epic concerts at the stadium for years to come!