The Weeknd is one of the most popular R&B artists today, with hits like “Blinding Lights,” “Starboy,” and “Can’t Feel My Face.” His latest After Hours tour has been wildly successful, selling out stadiums across North America and Europe. With his growing fanbase and critically acclaimed album After Hours, it’s no surprise his concerts are in high demand. But was his latest show truly sold out? Let’s take a closer look.
The Weeknd’s Popularity
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, has seen a meteoric rise to fame over the past decade. He first gained attention in 2010 by anonymously releasing mixtapes online. His distinct, dark R&B style quickly built a cult following. After signing with a major label, Republic Records, The Weeknd’s profile grew exponentially.
His 2015 album Beauty Behind the Madness cemented him as a superstar. It was supported by three Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles: “Can’t Feel My Face,” “The Hills,” and “Starboy.” He won two Grammys for the album. His later albums like Starboy and After Hours continued his chart dominance and critical acclaim.
As of 2023, The Weeknd has:
- Over 75 million albums sold worldwide
- Over 50 million singles sold in the US alone
- 5 Grammy wins from 19 nominations
- An Academy Award nomination for “Earned It” from Fifty Shades of Grey
He also has a massive social media following of:
- 33 million followers on Instagram
- Over 28 million monthly listeners on Spotify
The Weeknd has truly embedded himself as a pop culture icon. His unique sound and style have inspired many younger artists. It’s no wonder his tour stops are in such high demand.
After Hours Tour Details
The Weeknd kicked off his After Hours tour in support of his hit album of the same name in January 2022. The tour was originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By the time it finally launched, fans were eager to see The Weeknd’s theatrical live show.
The After Hours tour spans over 100 dates across North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. He’s performing at major stadiums and arenas during the tour.
Some key stats about The Weeknd’s After Hours tour:
- Over 1.8 million tickets sold globally
- $130 million gross ticket sales as of July 2022
- Breaks The Weeknd’s own record for quickly selling 70,000+ tickets in cities like London, Paris, and Dublin
The tour production includes:
- Massive LED screens with dynamic digital effects
- Fireworks, lasers, and other pyrotechnics
- New creative sets and costumes for every show
With this state-of-the-art production, The Weeknd is creating a full audiovisual experience for fans. Every show promises a unique performance catered to that city.
Were Specific Shows Sold Out?
Given The Weeknd’s A-list status and the hype around the After Hours tour, you’d expect most shows to instantly sell out. But were specific concerts truly sold out venues? Let’s look at some examples.
The Weeknd performed back-to-back shows at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 16 and 17, 2022. With a capacity of 82,500, this would be one of his largest venues on the tour. According to Ticketmaster, both shows were marked as “Sold Out” just hours after the public on-sale.
In London, The Weeknd played two concerts at the O2 Arena on October 7 and 8, 2022. Seating 20,000 people, the venue was packed for both nights according to reviews.
In Paris, The Weeknd took the stage at the Stade de France on July 29, 2022. Although Paris has a few larger venues, the Stade de France was likely chosen to accommodate the most fans on the tour so far with a capacity of 80,000. The show was listed as sold out on Ticketmaster France.
Looking even further ahead, The Weeknd’s November shows in Australia already show tickets unavailable or only single seats left. The tour’s final stop at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is sure to be a 65,000-seat sell out.
Key Sold Out Concert Examples
| City | Venue | Date | Attendance / Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Rutherford, NJ | MetLife Stadium | July 16, 2022 | Sold Out 82,500 |
| East Rutherford, NJ | MetLife Stadium | July 17, 2022 | Sold Out 82,500 |
| London, UK | O2 Arena | October 7, 2022 | Sold Out 20,000 |
| London, UK | O2 Arena | October 8, 2022 | Sold Out 20,000 |
| Paris, France | Stade de France | July 29, 2022 | Sold Out 80,000 |
Why Shows Are Selling Out Quickly
Given The Weeknd’s popularity and the long wait for this tour, it’s no surprise shows are selling like hotcakes. Here are some of the key factors contributing to the instant sell outs:
High Fan Demand
The Weeknd has one of the largest and most dedicated fanbases in music today. His fans, known as “XO”, are willing to travel to see their idol live. Diehard fans snap up pre-sale tickets to secure the best seats. With over 28 million monthly listeners just on Spotify, demand is global.
Tour Postponements
Most of these tour dates were originally planned for 2020, but postponed twice due to COVID-19. After waiting over two years, fans jumped at the chance to see The Weeknd’s new production. The pent up demand exploded once tickets finally went on sale.
Limited Tour Dates
Despite his popularity, The Weeknd is only playing select cities in certain regions on this tour. He’s performing just 2-3 shows in most metro areas. The limited tour stops mean increased demand wherever he’s booked.
Luxury Experience
Seeing The Weeknd live promises to be a full sensory experience with elaborate sets, visuals, and effects. Fans want to witness the premium production which requires massive venues. So tickets at large stadiums and arenas are scooped up fast.
Critical Acclaim
The After Hours album continues to receive critical praise and awards attention, even 2 years after release. The 2022 tour is getting rave live reviews as well. Such consistent acclaim sustains interest in The Weeknd’s work and tour.
How Fast Were Shows Selling Out?
Most Weeknd concert dates sold out within hours, if not minutes, of public on-sales.
Looking at the London O2 Arena shows again, Ticketmaster UK reported all tickets snatched up under 20 minutes for both dates. The Weeknd holds the venue’s record for the fastest sell-out show of all time.
In Amsterdam, a third show was added at the Ziggo Dome after the first two sold out immediately. Even the third show then sold out within a day.
Reports from Toronto show box office lines forming overnight as diehard fans tried to get tickets. Online queues on Ticketmaster reached over 2000 people within minutes.
It was a similar story across North America where tickets disappeared instantly. Much of the general public missed out as most seats were grabbed during pre-sales.
Select Ticket On-Sale Examples
| City | Venue | On-Sale Date | Sell Out Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| London, UK | O2 Arena | March 25, 2022 | Under 20 minutes |
| Amsterdam, Netherlands | Ziggo Dome | April 1, 2022 | Same day sell out |
| Toronto, Canada | Rogers Centre | March 25, 2022 | Instant online queues |
This snapshot shows the intense competition for tickets in every market. It validates The Weeknd’s elite status and the excitement generated by his long-awaited tour.
Are Reseller Prices High?
Given the instant sell outs, it’s no surprise After Hours tour tickets are now fetching hefty prices on reseller sites.
On StubHub, lower bowl seats originally priced around $200 are now going for $500-$600 for major US shows. In London, seats with a face value of £85 are being resold for £400-600 depending on location.
For upcoming Australia dates, Ticketmaster Resale has floor seats priced from $600-900 AUD. The same tickets originally sold for $260 AUD.
Top ticket resell prices:
- New York, NY – $1400 for floor seats
- Los Angeles, CA – $1200 for lower bowl seats
- Melbourne, Australia – $900 for floor standing
- London, UK – £1200 for floor access
The huge markups illustrate the feeding frenzy from fans still trying to get tickets. It also shows how underpriced the initial tickets were given the overwhelming demand.
Sample Ticket Resell Prices
| City | Original Price | Resell Price |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $250 | $1400 |
| London, UK | £85 | £600-1200 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $150 | $1200 |
| Sydney, Australia | $260 | $900 |
How Has Demand Compared to Other Tours?
The insatiable demand for After Hours tickets is on par with the top tours in recent years.
In 2019, artists like Pink, Elton John and Justin Timberlake played to packed stadiums and sold out quickly. After Hours is seeing the same demand patterns, if not higher in certain markets.
Compared to other artists currently touring, The Weeknd appears more popular than Billie Eilish but slightly below Harry Styles mania. Reviews show Harry selling out faster overall.
Headlining arena tours by artists like The Chainsmokers and Halsey in 2021-22 have struggled to sell out many dates. Their ticket sales pale in comparison to The Weeknd’s instant sell outs.
The level of demand resembles that seen for megastars like Adele, Taylor Swift or Beyonce when they launch rare tours. The scarcity drives their ticket sales into overdrive.
The Weeknd may not have the decades long career of legends like The Rolling Stones. But among artists under 40, very few can match his touring power right now.
Will More Dates Be Added?
Given the tour is expected to finish in Fall 2022, it is unlikely The Weeknd will add many more shows. However, in some markets with the hottest demand, new dates could potentially get announced.
For example, he could possibly add another London show before leaving Europe. Extra dates also get added if a show needs to get postponed or canceled at a certain venue.
But in general, the remaining schedule looks locked in. The Weeknd seems to be strategically limiting dates to keep demand high.
He may return to certain regions for additional legs on a future world tour. Fans clamoring for more shows will just have to wait for the next tour cycle.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Weeknd’s After Hours tour is indeed playing to sold out stadiums and arenas across the globe. Multiple factors like pent up demand, limited dates, and his core audience have driven intense interest in the shows wherever he goes.
This analysis looked at specific examples where tickets literally disappeared immediately after public on-sales. The rabid demand rivals that seen for pop’s biggest superstars over the past decade. While a few seats may surface later, it’s clear that getting a ticket to The Weeknd’s tour is one of the hottest tickets in music right now. Hopefully supply can better meet demand if he embarks on another global trek down the road.