Garth Brooks is one of the most successful country music artists of all time. He has sold over 170 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists in history. Brooks is known for his unique blend of country, rock and pop styles and his high-energy live shows. In the 1990s, Brooks was one of the most popular performers in the world and helped bring country music into the mainstream.
One of Brooks’ most devoted fan bases has been in Utah. His concerts in the state consistently sell out quickly, with fans eager to see the country superstar perform live. In this article, we will look at how many tickets Garth Brooks has sold for his concerts in Utah throughout his career. Understanding ticket sales gives us an idea of his popularity and ability to draw large crowds in the state.
Brooks’ Success in Utah
Utah has proven to be fertile ground for Brooks’ success over the years. He has a strong, loyal following among country music listeners in the state. Utahns have purchased tickets in huge numbers whenever Brooks schedules a concert in the area.
His popularity in Utah first became apparent in 1996 when he scheduled concerts in Salt Lake City. The shows were part of his world tour supporting his album Fresh Horses. Tickets to the concerts sold out in just 1 hour, demonstrating how quickly Utah fans snapped up the chance to see Brooks live.
Brooks returned to Salt Lake City in 1998 for his first concert stands at Rice-Eccles Stadium. He performed 6 sold out shows over 3 days. In total, over 225,000 tickets were sold for the 6 concerts, according to news reports at the time.
The staggering ticket sales continued when Brooks came back to Salt Lake City in 2015 after taking a break from touring. He sold over 190,000 tickets for 5 shows at EnergySolutions Arena. These concerts broke venue records for the fastest sellouts.
Most recently, Brooks put tickets on sale for a concert in July 2022 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake. He sold over 75,000 tickets, with all seats going in under 30 minutes. This broke the record for the largest ticket sales in a single day at the stadium.
Total Utah Ticket Sales
Based on available sales data, we can estimate that Garth Brooks has sold well over 500,000 tickets for his concerts in Utah throughout his career. Here’s a breakdown of his shows and approximated ticket sales in the state:
| Year | City | Venue | # of Shows | Est. Tickets Sold |
| 1996 | Salt Lake City | Delta Center | 3 | 90,000 |
| 1998 | Salt Lake City | Rice-Eccles Stadium | 6 | 225,000 |
| 2015 | Salt Lake City | EnergySolutions Arena | 5 | 190,000 |
| 2022 | Salt Lake City | Rice-Eccles Stadium | 1 | 75,000 |
| Total | 15 | 580,000 |
As we can see, Brooks has performed 15 concerts in Utah since he first started touring there in 1996. Based on news reports of each tour’s ticket sales, we estimate he has sold around 580,000 tickets total for his shows in the state.
This makes Utah one of Brooks’ top markets in terms of ticket sales. The over half a million tickets sold demonstrates the incredible devotion Utah audiences have for the country superstar. It also shows how Brooks has cultivated a loyal following in the state that keeps turning out in record numbers whenever he tours there.
Reasons for Strong Utah Ticket Sales
There are several factors that help explain why Garth Brooks’ concerts are so popular in Utah:
– Utah has a large population of country music fans. Country radio thrives in Utah markets, indicating many listeners enjoy the genre. Brooks’ classic country style resonates with these local fans.
– The state lacks other large concerts and entertainment options beyond Salt Lake City. When big tours come through, Utahns are eager to attend.
– Brooks appeals to a wide demographic. His music attracts older and younger crowds alike. Families and couples make attending his concert an event.
– Latter-day Saints members, who have a significant presence in Utah, are drawn to Brooks’ wholesome image and positive messages.
– Utahns are willing to travel for big concerts in Salt Lake City. The centralized population makes it easy for fans statewide to attend.
– Ticket prices for Brooks’ concerts have remained relatively affordable over the years. This makes it easy for fans to buy tickets when he tours.
Thanks to these favorable factors, Utah has become one of the top markets for Garth Brooks in terms of ticket sales throughout his long career. His concerts consistently generate huge ticket demand any time he schedules a Salt Lake City show. Based on his past sales history, this trend seems likely to continue as Brooks enters the next phases of his touring career in the 2020s and beyond.
Comparisons to Other Utah Concert Events
Brooks’ ticket sales stand out even more when you compare them to other major concert events in Utah history. Here’s how some of Brooks’ shows stack up:
– His 6 shows at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 1998 sold 225,000 tickets. In contrast, legendary rock band The Rolling Stones sold 39,000 tickets for their show at the stadium in 2005.
– Pope John Paul II’s 1993 Mass at the stadium drew 72,000 people, significantly less than Brooks’ concert attendance.
– The 2002 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies brought in around 50,000 people each to Rice-Eccles Stadium. Brooks consistently sells more tickets than these major international events.
– Acts like Eagles and U2 have played sold out shows in Salt Lake City. But their typical arena shows max out around 20,000 seats, much smaller than Brooks’ stadium concerts.
Very few other touring acts have been able to match the enormous ticket sales Garth Brooks has achieved in Utah over his career. His popularity and appeal to Utah audiences is truly unmatched.
Worldwide Ticket Sales
While Utah has been a strong market for ticket sales, it represents a fraction of Brooks’ total worldwide figures. He has sold over 160 million concert tickets globally during his career.
Some key notes on his worldwide sales figures:
– His three-year world tour from 1993 to 1996 sold over 13 million total tickets. This tour further cemented him as a global phenomenon.
– His comeback world tour from 2014-2017 grossed over $350 million total with attendance of nearly 6.4 million.
– In 2017 and 2018, his North American Stadium Tour drew over 2.8 million fans. This included the largest single concert attendance record – over 80,000 fans at Boise State University’s Albertsons Stadium.
– He has played a record-breaking nine sold out shows at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland with 400,000+ tickets sold.
Brooks has achieved staggering sales across North America, Europe, and Australia throughout his touring career. His worldwide sales cement his status as one of the most commercially successful concert artists ever. While Utah has contributed substantially to his touring figures, Brooks’ popularity extends far beyond the state.
Conclusion
In looking at available sales data and news reports, we estimate Garth Brooks has sold around 580,000 tickets total for his Utah concerts since 1996. His shows consistently sell out quickly and generate enormous demand among his Utah fan base. These enormous state figures are a microcosm of Brooks’ broader worldwide concert success. With over 160 million global tickets sold, he is firmly in the rarified air as one of the best-selling live acts in music history. Utah remains one of Brooks’ strongest markets, and fans will likely continue flocking to his concerts there as long as he keeps returning to the state.
