THE M.E.N. Arena is officially the most popular entertainment venue on the planet - for the second year running
A total of 1,245,196 concert-goers have flocked through the doors to see some of the world's biggest acts like Take That, Kylie Minogue, Westlife and Justin Timberlake over the past year.
The latest figures from Pollstar show that Madison Square Garden, in New York, came second with ticket sales of 1,230,433 while The O2, in Greenwich, came third with 1,209,376 after it opened for business in June. Wembley Arena was knocked into fourth place with ticket sales of 901,778.
The M.E.N. Arena, which is managed by SMG (Europe), also came first in Pollstar's annual break-down of ticket sales in 2006.
"We started 2007 with six nights of Kylie Minogue and concluded the year with 11 nights of Take That - it was a fantastic year from start to finish," said the M.E.N. Arena's general manager John Knight.
"We have staged a total of 93 different rock and pop concerts over the past year which is more than we have ever staged before
"And every one of those 1,250,000 ticket holders should be proud of putting Manchester at the top of the charts - again.
Buzz
"I just love beating London, and to head the list of the so-called iconic venues in all the world's capital cities gives all our staff a real buzz.
"When leading stars like Barbra Streisand come to the UK - like she did last year - they often only perform in London and Manchester.
"Many acts are not making as much money as they once did from CD sales and this is another reason why they are being encouraged to tour more. And venues like the M.E.N. Arena - which is still the biggest indoor arena in Europe - enable them to make money
"And 2008 looks sure to be just as strong as 2007. Celine Dion has just come out of a four year residency in Las Vegas and will be playing at the M.E.N. Arena as well as in London."
Other acts who have already signed up to appear at the M.E.N. Arena in 2008 include Kylie, The Spice Girls, Westlife and Neil Diamond.
Some analysts are predicting that ticket sales at The O2 - which used to be the Millennium Dome - will overtake all other venues in 2008.
The arena in Greenwich managed to come third in the list, selling 1.2 million tickets, despite the fact it was only opened in June 2007.
Top 10
1 Manchester Evening News Arena 1,245,196
2 Madison Sq Garden Arena, New York 1,230,433
3 O2 Arena 1,209,376 (from June)
4 Wembley Arena 901,778
5 Air Canada Centre, Toronto 670,255
6 HP Pavilion At San Jose 666,587
7 Bell Centre, Montreal 620,403
8 Philips Arena, Atlanta 564,258
9 American Airlines, Dallas 539,030
10 Izod Centre, New Jersey 527,694
Comments
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1.2 million people and it is connected to a 3rd world grotty horrible train station, no decent pubs,bars or somewhere to eat. If poeple are going to a gig and they are not from manchester, they must get a negative image of the city.
I agree - I live not too far away and remember going to the cinema (which closed in about 2001). Used to have a nearby bar, at the old Boddington's brewery, but now absolutely nothing. Although there is quite alot planned where Boddingtons used to be. Watch that space!
Bigmouth -- Victoria is about to undergo massive redevelopment so worry ye not. Besides which, if you think the vicinity of the MEN Arena is grotty, just try the O2...
I've been once, to see Billy Joel. I'd paid top whack, and was sitting 50yds plus away from the stage, and at right angles to it. On the hottest night of the year, "security" staff confiscated cold drinks as people went in, and then sold them unchilled 250ml bottles of water at some £2 a time (after you'd queued for twenty minutes). The audience was incapable of sitting still, and was constantly on the move, "grazing" on fast food from the various franchises. The whole place is finished in bare concrete - and I won't be going back: I've never felt myself to have been so comprehensively "ripped-off" as I did that night.