gE Blog Series: Entertainment Part 4 - Venues of the World

The entertainment industry has many different facets, and each country seems to have their own spin on each of these. One thing that seems to be universally enjoyed by every culture is live music. There really is nothing quite like it. Mp3 players and stereos are great, but nothing can replace seeing your favorite band live in concert. The music industry thrives off of this desire. Artists from all different countries plan world tours and plan shows in some of the world’s most impressive venues. Concerts have become their very own version of business. With fans willing to spend such a premium to see their idols, concert venues have turned into extremely lucrative buildings. There are some venues that truly stand above the rest, and make concerts that much better. Here are just a few of the world’s most captivating concert venues:

Madison Square Garden (New York City, USA) – This venue has been named the ‘World’s Most Famous Arena’, and rightfully so. It has a capacity of 20,000, and has moved locations several times until 1968 when it landed in its current location in Manhattan. It holds concerts, hockey games, basketball games, lacrosse matches, wrestling and boxing events and is home to several of New York’s professional sports teams. 

Wembley Stadium (London, England) – Has an impressive capacity of 90,000 (second largest in Europe). It is England’s national stadium, and hosts football, rugby, and American football along with concerts.

Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia) – Built in 1973, Sydney Opera House is most famous for its unique and impressive architecture. Its architect won the Pritzker Prize for its design, and it has been honored by UNESCO World Heritage Site. On top of that the venue hosts 1500 performances each year! 

Slane Castle (County Meath, Ireland) – The Slane Castle has not always been a concert venue, as its name may imply. It has been affiliated with the Scottish Conyngham family since the 1700s and only recently has been used for entertainment. The lawn hosts only one massive concert a year in August but holds between 80,000 and 100,000 people, not to mention an impressive line-up of artists!

Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Colorado, USA) – This venue is unique because of the natural setting that surrounds it. The stage is enclosed by massive red rocks that make this a picturesque place for a concert. Its first concert held in 1906 and it can hold up to 9,450 guests! 

These are just a few of the world’s most popular venues; but there seems to be countless numbers of places to see quality live music worldwide. All of these venues obviously bring in a great deal of business for themselves, between ticket sales, and concession and merchandise sales, but the economic impact does not stop there. Local businesses near these large venues also thrive off of the events they put on. Restaurants, gas stations, hotels, shops, and other various local businesses all see increases in sales due to these big events.  What business wouldn’t want to be down the street from tens of thousands of potential customers? Sounds like music to my ears!