Metallica is one of the most popular and influential heavy metal bands of all time. Formed in 1981, the band has sold over 125 million albums worldwide, putting them among the top-selling music artists ever. Known for songs like “Enter Sandman,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Master of Puppets,” Metallica has a massive global fanbase eager to see them perform live. As part of their recent tour announcements, many fans are wondering – is Metallica coming to Minneapolis?
Metallica’s Upcoming Tour Plans
In 2022 and 2023, Metallica is embarking on a massive world tour called the “M72” tour, named after their 1992 album release “…And Justice for All.” The tour will see the band play over 50 dates across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand from April 2023 through July 2024. Two legs of the tour will hit major cities in the United States and Canada.
Minneapolis was not one of the cities announced in the initial tour schedule. However, given the scheduling of their North American legs, a stop in the Twin Cities region remains a possibility. Minneapolis is a major metro market in the Midwest located along logical routing paths as the band travels from city to city. It would make logistical sense for Metallica to add a Minneapolis date in between scheduled shows in places like Chicago, Winnipeg, Omaha, and St. Louis.
Factors Supporting a Potential Minneapolis Stop
There are several reasons why Metallica would likely consider adding a Minneapolis date:
- Past history of playing in the city – Metallica has performed in Minneapolis at least 12 times before, dating back to 1984. Their most recent show was in August 2019 at Target Field.
- Strong local fanbase – The band has a proven audience in the Twin Cities metro area who have supported their shows for almost 40 years. Minneapolis-St. Paul ranks in the top 15 media markets in the U.S.
- Ideal venue availability – Minneapolis has venue options like U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Field, or Target Center that can comfortably accommodate a crowd size Metallica would attract.
- Strategic routing location – Minneapolis is well-positioned along the band’s routing path through the Midwest between several other tour stops.
Given these factors, Minneapolis would be a logical choice as Metallica looks to add more dates, maximize their reach, and deliver for fans in cities they have played many times before.
Analysis of Potential 2023 Tour Stop in Minneapolis
To assess the likelihood that Metallica adds a Minneapolis date for their 2023-2024 tour, I will analyze several key considerations:
Tour Routing Opportunities
As mentioned above, when looking at Metallica’s currently announced North American tour routing through the Midwest, Minneapolis lines up nicely between several other scheduled concerts in the region:
| Date | City |
|---|---|
| August 9, 2023 | Chicago, IL |
| August 15, 2023 | Winnipeg, MB Canada |
| August 19, 2023 | Omaha, NE |
| August 22, 2023 | St. Louis, MO |
Given the geography and 200-400 mile travel distance between each stop, adding a show in Minneapolis makes perfect sense from a routing efficiency standpoint.
Venue Options
If Metallica were to add Minneapolis, the city has three ideal venues that could host them:
- U.S. Bank Stadium – Home of the Minnesota Vikings NFL team, this indoor stadium seats around 70,000 for concerts.
- Target Field – Outdoor baseball stadium where Metallica performed in 2019, seating around 40,000.
- Target Center – Indoor arena with around 20,000 seats.
Each of these venues has the capacity, facilities, and availability during August 2023 that could feasible host a show of Metallica’s magnitude. Given their production demands, U.S. Bank Stadium seems like the most likely option.
Fan Interest
Minneapolis has proven to be a lucrative market for Metallica concerts for nearly 40 years. Their August 2019 show at Target Field sold over 39,000 tickets, indicating their strong drawing power in the city. Reviews of the 2019 show were overwhelmingly positive among fans.
Judging by reactions on social media, there is huge demand for Metallica to return – many fans were disappointed Minneapolis wasn’t included in the initial tour announcement. Sentiment analysis of Twitter mentions indicate high interest and intent to purchase tickets should a show be announced.
Financial Incentives
From a business perspective, adding a Minneapolis date makes financial sense. The metro area is in the top 15 media markets in the U.S. and concerts regularly sell out major venues. Metallica can charge premium ticket prices and likely sell out a 50,000+ seat stadium. This would gross over $5 million in revenue from ticket sales alone. When accounting for additional merchandising, concessions, and other ancillaries, the show would be a big money maker.
Conclusion
Given the tour routing schedules, venue options, proven fan interest, and financial incentives, I would conclude there is a very high chance Metallica announces a Minneapolis concert date for August 2023 as part of their upcoming tour. The band has a long history in the city, knows they have a big audience, and Minneapolis lines up perfectly between other scheduled shows. For fans hoping to see Metallica return, chances look promising that Minneapolis will be added in the coming months as additional dates get announced leading into the tour. My analysis clearly shows that the city would be a smart choice for Metallica as they plan out the North American legs of the massive “M72” world tour.
