Bigger Isn’t Always Better at Stadium Shows
Does Kenny Chesney plus Keith Urban equal a good time? Or, put another way, is bigger better? I’m going to go with no.
Now that tickets for their stadium shows are going on sale, I can’t help but long for the days when the big guys toured separately. I know, I know. It’ll be a day packed with the best country music. It’ll have a very Jimmy Buffett-like vibe. People will have the time of their lives — in theory, anyway.
But what about the girl who could only afford a seat in section 427 at Chicago’s Soldier Field? Will she have the time of her life? Or will she be bummed that she spent about $70 to see Chesney or Urban live and now they’re about 400 feet away? For that Chicago show, there will be about 50,000 seats. Five levels of seating. Some great, some mediocre and some just plain awful. It’s definitely not a there’s-no-such-thing-as-a-bad-seat venue.
Add the competitive nature of ticket gathering, and it gets even worse. Ticketmaster will basically be pitting thousands of diehard Chesney fans against thousands of diehard Urban fans. That’s a lot of passionate fans. Not to mention all the Gary Allan, LeAnn Rimes and Luke Bryan lovers who will be vying for seats in this rivalry as well. It will only add fuel to the ticket broker fire, but that’s another blog altogether.
I’ve blogged before about having a bad case of Frontrowitis, so maybe those of us with an aversion to rows 2-198 will be the only ones who think this double bill is a bad idea. The other 49,000 people there will love every minute, because from the artist’s perspective, bigger may very well be better. If I put myself in their cowboy boots, maybe Chesney and Urban thrive on these over-the-top crowds. Maybe there’s some kind of magic that happens when they look out and see how many people came to watch them. That ego boost might make them play harder, sing better and make the set list longer, making that girl in section 427 think it was worth every penny.
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joshua thompson says:
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joshua thompson says:
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Gina says:
I totally agree with you. I’ve been to those shows…even field level seats are bad. You have to watch the jumbotron just like the back row plus you have to deal with the people who’ve been drinking since 9 am. I think they do it because they can pack 3 audiences into one show/performance. It’s killing the concert season for me.
Ann says:
I’ve been to these shows and I’ll be going again this year. It’s the time of your life! It’s what I look forward to all year…getting together with my best girlfriends, gathering in one fun city and enjoying a seven hour concert with our favorite acts! I guess I am the girl who thinks it’s worth every penny.
Alana says:
I have to agree, I much prefer the smaller shows than the larger shows — you get so much more for a lot less $$$
gloria says:
I would never waste my money on a stadium show! I prefer the smaller arenas and clubs. I believe the Kenny stadium shows are for all the “party hardy” fans that aren’t really into the music as they are for having the tailgate parties and drinking (not saying everybody, but I feel the majority)! I read a review last year of one of these shows and the reviewer said himself, he believed half the people there could have cared less who was up on the stage performing or what they were singing. He called it a “drunkfest”! Kenny, to me, will do anything to be #1 and I’ve always thought it was odd that he wins EOTY just because he fills up a stadium. What about the performances and quality of music?? I heard Wynonna after being asked who she thought should get EOTY one time and she said, well, don’t know now because qualifications are just wearing tight jeans and filling up a stadium!
Kathy says:
Gloria, I agree with you 1000%. I think the stadium shows are just a party. I am rather shocked that Keith is willing to be involved in this as he seems to love interacting with as many of his fans as possible. I also agree with the statement about Kenny. I have never understod why or how he wins EOTY. I have always read it is all about concert numbers well, these stadium shows are just a way for him to rig the numbers so he will win. I wonder if he was performing by himself with ony an opening act how high his numbers would be. Not very high I would imagine.
Laura says:
I totally and completely agree with you. I have been to three of Kenny’s stadium shows and last year I promised myself that I’d never go to another one. After an entire day in the sun with people who have no idea when to stop drinking and no regard for anyone but themselves, I was too exhausted to truly enjoy Kenny by the time he finally took the stage. I had great seats, too, or so I thought. Somehow, my 4th row seats became more like 10th row by the time Kenny came on because people wiggle their way through and security can do nothing to stop it. It always amazes me when someone feels I won’t notice or care if they stand in front of me. After several years of multiple Kenny show summers, I have dat to cut down to 2 this year because I just can’t deal with another stadium. I know for a fact that I am not the only one. Kenny, bigger IS NOT always better.
pslee says:
Just wanted to add that while I DO like Kenny I am a bigger Keith fan and the audiences for both tend to be quite different. I have seen Keith 5 times and traveled several states to do so and would gladly do so again and again. I have seen Kenny once…in my own state… and lasted all of 3 songs before the drunks began falling on my preteen daughters and niece. We left smelling like a brewery and not very happy. I wouldn’t pay the price for the 2 of them together…because in my opinion…one is a PARTY while the other is pure entertainment.
Seattle says:
We caught a Kenny stadium show last year — and it was quite an experience. We were 9th row, on the floor, and no, I would not say the majority of the audience was “there for the music.” There was a lot of drinking but that wasn’t the issue so much as the drugs. People sure are brazen these days! I guess they know security doesn’t care.
There’s no way this was a “time of my life” — not even on the list — I’m very lucky and my life has been so much better than this!!
Whitney! says:
Jess says:
I’m a huge keith urban fan I would love to see him in a stadium concert but the tickets are so competative and there needs to be something done to all of the presales and ways to get tickets the ticketbrokers are eating the fans up some tickets are going for over a $1000 and the only reason I’m interested in attending a stadium concert is to see keith and I’m a little worried because the last kenny concert I went to I spent the whole time at the concert worried about the drunk people around me so if your one of those people who spills beer everywhere grow up listen to the radio at home if your going to get stupid drunk the rest of us are there for the music it’s a waste if your second row floor seats just move on up to the nosebleeds the rest of us are there to enjoy the music and actually remember so leave the good seats for the rest of us who are listening
Ms. Feathers says:
If Keith and Kenny want to play together, that’s great and they should. They’re buddies and all that. But why not tape a live performance in a reasonably-sized hall or theatre and then TELEVISE it on a major network. Or better yet, make it an IMAX movie. Can y’all imagine Keith Urban 30 feet tall, those blue eyes as large as dinner plates, grinning at you while singing something sexy like “Faster Car” or “Rainin’ on Sunday”?? THAT I would pay for.
michl59@sbcglobal.net says:
I agree, I wish Kenny were playing in smaller venues this summer. I’ll go see him at Soldier Field, but honestly one huge stadium for the summer is enough for me. Kenny is at his peak this summer, it should be interesting. Right now it appears that the majority of the tickets are being bought by scalpers, so let’s see what they actually sell for. Tons of tickets are on Ebay.
R.L.G. says:
I have to say I saw Keith Urban last October at a FREE mini concert on the Jimmy Kimmel show and he couldn’t have played any harder or better than he did that night. He just loves what he does and I don’t think it matters if it’s a huge stadium or a more intimate venue.
Debbie says:
I’m a rabid Keith fan…my best friend is a rabid Kenny fan! With this year’s staduim shows, we’re finally able to go to a concert together! LOL Sad to say, though, I’m not really looking forward to it as much I wish I could…I know there’s going to be too much partying going on around us. But, it seems to happen at almost every concert I’ve been to lately….those of us there to just enjoy the performance have to be annoyed by the people who are just there to drink and act foolish. In a perfect world (in my mind) there would be a section for die-hard fans where everyone would promise not to drink and not to CONSTANTLY have to crawl over you to get out of the row to go to the bathroom, or whatever! People would just stay in their seats (well, actually stand at their seats!) and actually watch, listen and sing along! I also know there will be WAY too much Kenny….and WAY NOT ENOUGH KEITH!! I’m another one who doesn’t understand all the EOY awards for Kenny. THERE IS SIMPLY NO COMPARISON! As a veteran of over 20 Keith concerts, I know there won’t be the same vibe between Keith and his fans that there is at one of his regular shows…there will be just too much distance between us. I just thank God we don’t have to only see him at the big stadium shows on a regular basis…hopefully he will never get that popular! The MAGIC that happens in the smaller venues is PRICELESS!!
Christian says:
I’ve seen Kenny Chesney more times than I can count… and I’ve spent more money than I want to remember. I too suffer from FRONT-ROW-itis—though mine expands to the first 3 rows. For whatever reason, perhaps simple bliss - the folks down in the first 3 rows and/or pits just seem to have a better time with each other. But during those concerts… I almost always get up and go to the back of the venue, and the energy seems to be strong and happy throughout. Aside from the Eagles Reunion concert, no one compares to Kenny. The energy/vibe is amazing.
As for Debbie… how can you think for a second that Kenny isn’t deserving all his awards? How could you possibly think that someone that exceeds all genres isn’t worthy of EOY? I don’t get it. I love Kenny…
A concert is probably not going to be the “time of your life”… but its going to be a whole lotta fun! Life is what you make it… if you want to be worried about drunks and stupid people that’s what you’ll see… if you go with a positive attitude that you’re gonna have a lot of fun… you will.
Betty Reid says:
I understand what you’re saying, Keith fans–luckily, he’s only going to play eight of Kenny’s stadium concerts, and Keith always manages to reach out to an audience no matter how rowdy or how huge a crowd it is–he has proven that by playing for Live 8 and Live Earth. He committed to these shows because he and Kenny are close friends, but he will still do everything he can to make sure the audience gets their money’s worth. Keith always puts his fans first any time I’ve ever seen him in concert. In all my years of being a country/rock music fan, I’ve rarely seen a country concert yet with any artist where there are not drunks and disorderly people. Some people just go for the alcohol and good times and ruin it for everyone else. Whether it’s Kenny Chesney’s concert, Bon Jovi’s or Bruce Springsteen’s (and I’ve been to concerts by all of them) you are just going to have to take the bitter with the sweet. When there’s a Kenny concert with multiple acts, I usually leave right after Keith plays. As much as I like Kenny Chesney, it is just not worth it to put up with a bunch of drunks as well as their equally rude and lusty girlfriends.
Eric says:
I’ve been to Kenny’s concerts quite a bit… and I LOVE it! It’s an amazing experience… And I don’t agree with this article.
For the people who are saying stuff about how you don’t understand how he wins the EOTY awards… Well, let me explain. He wins those awards because he has the top concert in country music, his singles hit the top on the charts, his albums sell a lot, and much more! He will most likley win EOTY again this year because of all of his success in 2007. If you don’t believe me about his success in 2007, then look below!
Kenny won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award, won the ACM Entertainer of the Year Award, won an ASCAP Award for his song “Beer In Mexico”, won an ASCAP award for his hit song “Never Wanted Nothin’ More”, won Male Video of the Year for “You Save Me” at the 2007 CMT Awards, won Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2007 People’s Choice Awards, Kenny picked up his 3rd Consecutive Top Package Award at the Billboard Touring Awards, Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates” debuted at #3 on the Billboard Charts, “Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates” sold 387,000 copies in it’s first week, “Never Wanted Nothin’ More” landed at #37 on the Billboard Charts within 57 hours, “Never Wanted Nothin’ More” was #1 on the Billboard Charts for 6 weeks, “Don’t Blink” landed at #16 on the Billboard Charts, “Don’t Blink” was #1 for 5 weeks on the Billboard Charts, all of the songs off of his “Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates” album landed on the Billboard Charts, he sells out Philly Stadium in 15 minutes for his “Flip Flop Summer Tour”, Kenny was Billboard’s #3 Top Songwriter in all genres of music in 2007, Kenny had the Top Country Tour of 2007, Kenny had the 2nd highest grossing tour in all genres of music, he was Airchecks/Mediabases Performer of 2007, Was on 7 charts for the Billboard Year End Charts, Kenny’s first staduim show for his “2008 Poets and Pirates Tour” sold out in 15 minutes, he co-produced Willie Nelson’s new cd, he co-wrote Rascal Flatts hit song “Take Me There”, even though “The Road and the Radio” was released in 2005, it went triple platinum in 2007, Kenny worked out and played with the New Orleans Saints, he sang debuts with Willie Nelson, Tracy Laurence & Tim McGraw, Reba, and George Strait.
Mary says:
I just read through all of the comments. I must say, that, I am a little annoyed with Kenny’s obsession to go bigger. I call it an obsession, because he doesn’t seem sincere any more. The impression I get from him these days, is that, it is all about the numbers. If you listen to his interviews, he always makes inferences to how big the stadium is and how many seats it holds…he equates this, in my opinion, with proving his success. I am not saying that Kenny is not a good singer, and not talented, however, there are too many good and talented people out there, that are not getting the recognition. Kenny is selling Chesney hype, and I am one of those fans that got pulled right in…Kenny is charasmatic, and he produces the same mania that grabbed fans in the 60s with the Beatles.His stadium shows are probably filled with screaming, adoring female fans that want a piece of him. I have been to his stadium shows,and my seats were one level up from the floor. Kenny looked like a match stick from where I was sitting. This concert was at Wachovia, in Philadelphia. If Kenny really cared about pleasing his fans, he would play smaller venues. He could have opted to play the Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ, as opposed to a big stadium show at Wachovia. My opinion is that he felt that he was above that, being that is the super star that he is….sour grapes, you bet…my tickets cost me four times the amount each time, and I was going to hear him sing, not to party long and hard.Younger fans are looking for any excuse to drink and get rowdy, but Kenny is getting older, and he should be thinking about flaunting his talent, as opposed to the premise of party till you puke at my concerts. ..heh a good name for his next tour…
Jill says:
I’m a Kenny fan, I’m a Keith fan, but out of all the comments that have been posted here, no one mentions Gary Allan?!? Not sure how that could happen as I have seen all three in concert before, but Gary is by far my favorite. I am suprised that he’s been doing these large shows because he has said before that he prefered doing the smaller venues. In my opinion, those are the best shows, but I like the stadium shows as well, just for different reasons. I think it’s fine if they do some stadium shows, but I hope they all remember why the are as fortunate as they are *US* and do a few of the smaller venues as well!! Let’s not forget that their labels as well as managers have a say in where they go as well!
BigKatDaddy says:
If you go to a concert to have the time of your life, you will be disappointed. If you go to a concert and compare each performance with the last, you will be disappointed. If you go to a concert and expect everybody there to be just like you (I wish they would sit down and stop dancing, they must be drunk), you will be disappointed. I can’t even begin to imagine what “Wynonna” would know about “Entertainer of the Year”. Did I read that one correctly? Wynonna? Back to my point, if a Wynonna fan goes to a Kenny Chesney concert, they will be disappointed. If you concern yourself with policing a concert, and walk around with a breathalyzer worried about who’s drunk and who’s been partying a little too much, you will be disappointed. Instead, instead, why don’t you look at it like this: “Hey, Kenny Chesney is coming back to town, you wanna go?” You are lucky if he comes to your town, or are close enough to take a trip to the show. And if you go to the show and Kenny Chesney is in the building, and you see him (even if you didn’t choose to pay for the good seats), and you hear him sing, then you shouldn’t be disappointed. You got what you paid for. If you are disappointed, and feel you didn’t get fair value for your money, blame yourself for your expectations. I’m sure Kenny Chesney wants to give every fan in attendance a good show. If you knew anything about the man, you would know that’s what he thinks about 52 weeks a year. One last thing, Kenny Chesney sells his tickets for the same price as, or less than, other major artists. In fact, the best seats in the house go for $100. That is considerably less than other big names in music playing the same venues. I’m sure Kenny Chesney, if he wanted to, could easily charge (and get) $129.00 - $150.00 for the same tickets. If this puts too much pressure and responsibility on “you”, i appologize. I realize how much American’s today have come to expect and demand too much. I’m surprised nobody here has actually complained to Kenny himself, and demanded a refund. Wow, and the lightbulbs go on. If you go to the show, go and enjoy it. If you don’t go to the show, I’m sure nobody will notice you’re not there. Enjoy sitting home listening to your CD’s and watching your DVD’s. P.S. The smaller the venue, the more expensive the ticket. Supply and Demand. If you are a democrat, which it sounds like a lot of you are, you might have to google that last line.
JDPsmiley says:
I am looking for bands who could be touring more FL shows soon and need extra roadie! I would like a summer job! Contact me if you know anything!
I could make Kenny his favorite pies, too!! Heehee!
jodi says:
BigKatDaddy, the girl posted that Wynonna was asked for her opinion and she gave it and she was right..IMO! Not everyone is obsessed with Kenny Chesney like you seemed to be. Wynonna is in the music industry and would have a pretty good opinion of what goes on and has gone on before! What you think is talent….such as Kenny Chesney, might not be to others! Ever wonder why he is never nominated for a Grammy if he is such an outstanding performer!
Eric says:
Jodi– Most country artists don’t get nominated for Grammy awards… Except for a select few. The Grammy’s don’t really support country music. They support mosly pop, rock, and rap.
BigKatDaddy says:
My posting could be applied to any artist. I’m not at all obsessed with, nor am I impressed with, Kenny Chesney. I actually prefer a more “traditional” country sound. I would choose a Toby Keith or Brooks and Dunn show every day of the week. I prefer “real” music and people, over “manufactured” or “calculated” images or personas. I just chose to argue some of the rediculous statements and “opions” I had read. But, I do go to Kenny Chesney concerts, and I stand by my last posting. I just go to have a good time, which is really what it’s all about. As far as the Grammy statement is concerned, I wouldn’t let any award that could be infuenced by politicking, sway my decisions. I can experience a concert and listen to music, and make up my own mind. Wow, you defend somebody and all of the sudden you’re “obsessed” with them. Hmmm, sounds like Jodi would make a pretty good reporter for the “drive by” media. P.S. I never mentioned talent. You put those words in my mouth. At most I mentioned drive and desire. I was using the sheer numbers alone. Can’t argue the numbers now, can you?
Lori says:
I am huge Chesney fan, and have been to several of his concerts. I have seen many country, rock, pop artists perform in my lifetime. I have never seen anyone put out the energy that Chesney does! You can be in the nose bleeds section, and still feel as though you are in the front row! Kenny works the ENTIRE crowd, from the front row all the way to the top of the stadiums. I just saw him in Frisco Texas, and although my seats may have been back there a ways from the main stage, drunks were falling down, NOTHING stopped me from having the time of my life! He ROCKED the whole crowd! Kenny deserves every single award he has received, and every single current nomination. I hope he wins EOTY- because he certainly deserves it!!!! As a fan that has followed his career since the beginning….he is the only artist out there that I know that has stayed true to himself, and his FANS both! Stadium- small venues it doesn’t matter to me. I just thank God I can be there! And just for the record….it’s not about the mans looks! It’s about the MUSIC! Try it people….you just might like it!!!! And it’s not an obsession for Kenny….it’s to reach ALL of his loyal FANS!!!!
ROCK ON KENNY!!!!