U2 | Ticket Sales Recap


A quick look at the touring numbers earned by U2 as headlining artists. The Irish rock band formed by Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr ranked at number fifteen highest-grossing band on the 2019 Year End charts.

About:
The six concerts performed as part of the ‘A Conspiracy of Hope’ co-headlining tour with Bryan Adams and Sting are listed as Orphan concerts and the remaining fifteen concert tours from ’11 O’Clock Tick Tock’ to ‘Joshua Tree (2017-19)’ are listed separetely.

If you suspect a mistake or notice anything is missing, leave a comment or DM on Twitter.


U2Box Office
The Joshua Tree
U2
Headlining Artist
$390,778,581
3,279,712
65 shows
Experience + Innocence
U2
Headlining Artist
$125,600,371
923,730
59 shows
Innocence + Experience
U2
Headlining Artist
$152,228,226
1,286,416
76 shows
U2 360°
U2
Headlining Artist
$736,421,584
7,272,046
110 shows
Vertigo
U2
Headlining Artist
$389,047,636
4,619,021
131 shows
Elevation
U2
Headlining Artist
$143,472,379
2,179,642
113 shows
PopMart
U2
Headlining Artist
$173,610,864
3,982,657
93 shows
ZooTV
U2
Headlining Artist
$151,215,414
5,350,554
156 shows
Lovetown
U2
Headlining Artist
$15,606,500
714,500
47 shows
The Joshua Tree
U2
Headlining Artist
$56,278,095
3,176,952
109 shows
The Unforgettable Fire
U2
Headlining Artist
$14,682,155
1,090,097
103 shows
War
U2
Headlining Artist
$2,129,635
226,035
82 shows
October
U2
Headlining Artist
$1,464,660
205,580
93 shows
Boy
U2
Headlining Artist
$1,167,326
168,950
156 shows
11 O’Clock Tick Tock
U2
Headlining Artist
$85,388
15,525
27 shows
Orphan$4,041,935
116,116
6 shows
TotalRevenue: $2,357,830,749
Tickets Sold: 34,607,533
Price: $68.13
Shows: 1,426

Original Touring Data:

The fifteen concert tours and co-headlining performances total $2.358 billion from 34.608 million tickets sold in 1.426 shows performed, up 19.88% after ‘Joshua Tree (2017-19)’. U2 is the highest-grossing artist of the 2010s decade, second highest-grossing band of all-time and one of the four artists in history to earn over $2 billion in ticket sales.

‘Joshua Tree’ tour earned a total of $390.8 million from 3.280 million tickets sold in 65 shows performed. The first year of the tour earned massive $317 million from 2.713 million tickets sold in 50 shows performed, making it the highest-grossing single calendar year of all-time in the touring industry at the time.

On September 22, 2017, U2 reached $2 billion earned in ticket sales worldwide with the concert played at the SDCCU Stadium, San Diego. The show earned $6.469 million from 54,221 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $2.004 billion.

‘Experience + Innocence’ earned a total of $125.6 million from 924,000 tickets sold in 59 shows performed. It brings a average price of nearly $136 dollars per ticket sold, making it the most expensive concert tour on the band’s catalogue. The tour holds the highest average gross per concert for a arena-tour on their career.

The concerts to promote ‘Songs of Innocence’ and ‘Songs of Experience’ earned $277.8 million from 2.210 million tickets sold combined in 135 shows performed in 2015 and 2018. Both tours were entirely performed in arenas in North America and Europe and recorded a average gross of over $2 million earned per concert.

The massive successful ‘U2 360°’ tour earned $736.4 million from 7.272 million tickets sold in 110 shows performed, making a total of $6.695 million revenue and 66,110 tickets sold per concert, the highest average numbers of their career. It was the highest-grossing and most-attended concert tour of all-time until 2019.

On April 9-11, 2011, the band earned $10.918 million each night played at the Estadio Morumbi, São Paulo, making it the highest-grossing single concerts of their career. The first concert was responsible to make it the most successful concert tour of all-time, pushing the overall number to $558.6 million on its first 83 shows performed.

On July 11-12, 2009, U2 reached $1 billion earned in ticket sales worldwide with the concerts played at the Stade de France, Paris. The second night earned $10.452 million from 93,272 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $1.009 billion.

‘Vertigo’ earned $389 million from 4.619 million tickets sold in 131 shows performed. The three nights played at the Croke Park, Dublin, were the single highest-grossing engagement of the tour with $21.2 million revenue from 247,000 tickets sold, making $7.054 million from 82,248 tickets sold each show. The tour was the second highest-grossing in history at the time.

On November 7, 2006, U2 reached $900 million earned in ticket sales worldwide with the concert played at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Brisbane. It earned a total of $4.254 million from over 50,000 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $901.4 million.

‘Elevation’ was the first tour played this millennium and earned a total of $143.5 million from 2.180 million tickets sold in 113 shows performed, making $1.270 million revenue and 19,289 tickets sold per concert. The highest-grossing engagement of the tour was performed at the Slane Castle, Dublin, with $6.684 million earned from 157,418 tickets sold in 2 shows.

‘PopMart’ earned a total of $173.6 million from 3.983 million tickets sold in 93 shows performed, making $1.867 million revenue and 42,824 tickets sold per concert. The highest average numbers of the band’s career at the time. It was U2’s first concert tour to be entirely performed at stadiums.

On September 20, 1997, the band performed in front of 150,000 fans at the Campo Volo, Reggio nell’Emilia, making it the largest attendance of their career. The show earned $5.294 million revenue, making it their first concert to hit $5 million in ticket sales.

‘ZooTV’ earned $151.2 million from a massive attendance of 5.351 million tickets sold in 156 shows performed, bringing a total of 34,298 fans each night. It was their most-attended concert tour for eighteen years, when it was passed by the ‘U2 360°’. The tour was U2’s first concert to earn over $100 million in ticket sales.

The highest-grossing engagement of the tour came from 4 shows played at the Wembley Stadium, London, with about $9.854 million from 290,000 tickets sold, making $2.464 million revenue and 72,500 tickets sold per night.

On March 18, 1992, U2 reached $100 million earned in ticket sales worldwide with the concert played at the Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford. It earned a total of 497,000 from 19,880 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $100.2 million.

The original ‘The Joshua Tree’ tour took place in 1987 to support their album with the same name. It earned a total of $56.3 million from 3.177 million tickets sold in 109 shows, performing for 29,146 fans each night.

The tour was the most successful concert tour of the year. Its most-attended concert was performed at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, with 115,000 tickets sold, making it their first single concert to sell over 100,000 tickets. And the shows at the Wembley Stadium, London, were the highest-grossing engagement with about $2.880 million from 144,000 tickets sold.

The five first concert tours and co-headlining concert played before ‘The Joshua Tree’ earned a total of number of $23.6 million from 1.822 million tickets sold combined, with 62.29% of this number coming from the ‘Unforgettable Fire’ tour which earned $14.7 million from 1.090 million tickets sold. The lifetime revenue was up by 237.29% after the ‘Joshua Tree’ tour.

The overall averages from U2’s touring numbers are — $157.189 million gross per tour; $1.653 million gross per concert; 2.307 million tickets sold per tour; 24,269 tickets sold per concert; and 95 shows performed per tour.

‘U2 360°’ represents 31.23% of the lifetime revenue, followed by ‘The Joshua Tree 2017’ (16.57%), ‘Vertigo’ (16.50%), ‘PopMart’ (7.36%), ‘Innocence + Experience’ (6.46%), ‘ZooTV’ (6.41%), ‘Elevation’ (6.08%), ‘Experience + Innocence’ (5.33%) and the remaining concerts from ’11 O’Clock Tick Tock’ to ‘Lovetown’ total 4.06%.


U2 | RegionsBox Office
North America$1,004,246,882
15,263,358
716 shows
Europe$890,200,815
13,529,257
553 shows
Latin America$220,163,793
2,585,483
41 shows
Asia$168,337,394
2,364,519
85 shows
Oceania$55,533,984
603,470
27 shows
Africa$19,347,881
261,446
4 shows

Regions:

North America is the highest-grossing and most-attended region with $1.004 billion earned from 15.263 million tickets sold in 716 shows performed. A total of 25.54% of this number comes from the ‘U2 360°’ tour which earned $256.4 million from 2.731 million tickets sold in 42 shows, making $6.105 million revenue and 65,014 tickets sold each concert.

‘U2 360°’ was the second highest-grossing concert tour of all-time in the region at the time, only behind The Rolling Stones’ ‘A Bigger Bang’. On October 25, 2009, they performed the most successful concert in the region with $9.960 million earned from 97,014 tickets sold at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena.

On July 1, 2018, U2 reached $1 billion earned in North American ticket sales with the second concert played at the Madison Square Garden, New York City, as part of the ‘Experience + Innocence’. It earned a total of $2.902 million from 18,525 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $1.003 billion.

‘U2 360°’ ($256.4 million) is followed by ‘The Joshua Tree (2017)’ ($162.4 million), ‘Vertigo’ ($143.3 million), ‘Elevation’ ($109.9 million), ‘PopMart’ ($77.2 million), ‘Innocence + Experience’ ($76.2 million), ‘ZooTV’ ($67.1 million), ‘Experience + Innocence’ ($61.5 million) and ‘The Joshua Tree’ ($35.1 million) as the highest-grossing concert tours in North America.

Europe is the second highest-grossing region with $890.2 million earned from 13.529 million tickets sold in 553 shows performed. A total of 35.93% of this number comes from the ‘U2 360°’ tour which earned $319.8 million from 3.072 million tickets sold in the region alone, making $6.953 million revenue and 66,783 tickets sold each concert.

The highest-grossing concerts played in the continent were performed at the Stade de France, Paris, on July 11-12, 2009, with $10.452 million and 93,272 tickets sold each night.

‘U2 360°’ ($319.8 million) is followed by ‘Vertigo’ ($155.9 million), ‘The Joshua tree (2017)’ ($84.9 million), ‘Innocence + Experience’ ($76.1 million), ‘ZooTV’ ($68.5 million), ‘Experience + Innocence’ ($64.1 million), ‘PopMart’ ($56.9 million) and ‘Elevation’ ($33.6 million) as the highest-grossing concert tours in the European continent.

Latin America is the third highest-grossing region with $220.2 million earned from 2.585 million tickets sold in 41 shows performed. It brings a total of $5.370 million revenue and 63,061 tickets sold each night, making it the highest average numbers for a region. ‘U2 360°’ represents 38.03% of this number with $83.7 million from 802,263 tickets sold in 10 shows.

The highest-grossing concerts played in Latin America were performed at the Estádio Morumbi, São Paulo, on April 9-13, 2011, with $10.918 million in ticket sales each night, but the most-attended concerts were played at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, with 94,326 tickets sold each night on May 11-15, 2011.

‘U2 360°’ ($83.7 million) is followed by ‘The Joshua tree (2017)’ ($69.7 million), ‘Vertigo’ ($38.4 million), ‘PopMart’ ($24.2 million) and ‘ZooTV’ ($4.1 million) as the highest-grossing concert tours in the Latin American market.

Oceania is the fourth highest-grossing continent with $168.4 million earned from 2.365 million tickets sold in 85 shows performed. The highest-grossing concerts were performed at the Subiaco Oval, Perth, with $6.955 million earned each night in 2010, and the most-attended one was performed at the Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, with 59,726 tickets sold in 2019.

Asia is the fifth highest-grossing continent with $55.5 million earned from 603,000 tickets sold in 27 shows performed. The highest-grossing concert was performed at the Philippine Arena, Manila, with $6.895 million earned on December 11, 2019, and the most-attended one was performed at the DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai, with 42,590 tickets sold on December 15, 2019.

Africa is the sixth highest-grossing continent with $19.3 million earned from 261,000 tickets sold in 4 shows performed. The most sucessful concert was performed at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, with $9.433 million earned from 94,232 tickets sold on February 13, 2011. It’s the highest-grossing concert of all-time in the African continent.

The North American market represents 42.58% of the lifetime revenue, followed by Europe (37.75%), Latin America (9.34%), Oceania (7.14%), Asia (2.36%) and Africa (0.83%).


U2 | MarketsBox Office
United States
North America
$874,059,512
13,253,691
648 shows
United Kingdom + Ireland
Europe
$262,364,724
3,858,442
261 shows
Australia
Oceania
$140,740,722
1,871,202
69 shows
Canada
North America
$130,187,370
2,009,667
68 shows
France
Europe
$102,568,146
1,422,823
43 shows
Germany
Europe
$99,393,225
1,538,478
57 shows
Brazil
Latin America
$85,313,565
918,914
12 shows
Italy
Europe
$84,400,439
1,469,115
34 shows
Spain
Europe
$72,697,186
1,023,539
23 shows
Netherlands
Europe
$64,233,090
1,072,687
45 shows
Mexico
Latin America
$60,268,211
781,735
14 shows
Argentina
Latin America
$47,264,630
569,397
10 shows
Belgium
Europe
$35,762,636
486,523
19 shows
Sweden
Europe
$28,063,040
462,770
18 shows
New Zealand
Oceania
$27,596,672
493,317
16 shows
Japan
Asia
$25,985,937
386,514
21 shows
Portugal
Europe
$22,331,590
328,479
7 shows
Chile
Latin America
$20,868,368
276,165
4 shows
Denmark
Europe
$19,665,595
245,632
9 shows
South Africa
Africa
$19,347,881
261,446
4 shows
Switzerland
Europe
$17,621,248
332,409
12 shows
Austria
Europe
$15,616,945
279,638
6 shows
Finland
Europe
$12,841,495
157,303
3 shows
Croatia
Europe
$12,700,784
124,012
2 shows
Singapore
Asia
$12,433,310
82,557
2 shows
Poland
Europe
$10,584,442
191,961
3 shows
Greece
Europe
$8,046,356
132,662
2 shows
Russia
Europe
$7,986,534
60,496
1 show
Philippines
Asia
$6,895,277
33,721
1 show
Colombia
Latin America
$6,449,019
39,272
1 show
Norway
Europe
$6,433,477
122,000
4 shows
India
Asia
$4,695,722
42,590
1 show
Turkey
Europe
$3,775,662
54,278
1 show
South Korea
Asia
$3,714,350
26,522
1 show
Israel
Asia
$1,809,388
31,566
1 show
Hungary
Europe
$1,320,000
60,000
1 show
Czech Republic
Europe
$1,254,201
61,010
1 show
Bosnia
Europe
$540,000
45,000
1 show

Markets:

U2 has a total of 26 markets with over $10 million earned in ticket sales. From United States to Netherlands, the top 10 markets earned $1.916 billion from 28.438 million tickets sold combined, making 81.26% of the lifetime grosses.

United States is the most successful market with $874.1 million earned from 13.254 million tickets sold in 648 shows performed, making $1.349 million revenue and 20,453 tickets sold per concert. It represents a total of 37.07% and 87.06% of the lifetime revenue and North American numbers respectively.

United Kingdom and Ireland are the most successful European market and second overall with $262.4 million earned from 3.858 million tickets sold in 261 shows performed, making $1.005 million revenue from 14,783 tickets sold each concert.

‘U2 360°’ is the top tour in the market with $67 million earned from 574,852 tickets sold in only 8 shows played, followed by ‘Vertigo’ ($58.2 million), ‘Innocence + Experience’ ($26.7 million), ‘The Joshua Tree (2017)’ ($24.7 million), ‘ZooTV’ ($20.3 million), ‘Experience + Innocence’ ($19.1 million), ‘PopMart’ ($16.6 million), ‘Elevation’ ($15.5 million) and ‘The Joshua Tree’ ($10.5 million).

The highest-grossing concert in Ireland was performed on July 22, 2017, at the Croke Park, Dublin, with $9.964 million as part of the ‘Joshua Tree’ tour. And on August 14-15, 2009, they performed their first concerts to gross over $10 million in a single night in the United Kingdom, with $10.340 million earned at the Wembley Stadium, London.

Australia is the third highest-grossing market with $140.7 million earned from 1.871 million tickets sold in 69 shows performed, making $2.040 million revenue and 27,119 tickets sold each concert. It represents a total of 5.97% of the lifetime revenue and 83.61% of the numbers in Oceania.

Canada is the fourth highest-grossing market with $130.2 million earned from 2.010 million tickets sold in 68 shows performed, making $1.915 million revenue and 29,554 tickets sold each concert. ‘U2 360°’ is the top tour with $56.9 million earned from 581,000 tickets sold in 9 shows.

France is the fifth highest-grossing market with $102.6 million from 1.423 million tickets sold in 43 shows performed, making $2.385 million and 33,089 tickets sold each concert. The most successful concerts were performed on July 11-12, 2009, at the Stade de France, Paris, with $10.451 million earned from 93,272 tickets sold each night.

Germany is the sixth highest-grossing market with just under $100 million from 1.538 million tickets sold in 57 shows performed, making $1.744 million revenue and 26,991 tickets sold each concert. The most successful concert was performed on July 18, 2009, at the Olympiastadion, Berlin, with $9.170 million earned from 88,265 tickets sold.

Brazil is the top Latin American country with $85.3 million from 919,000 tickets sold in 12 shows performed, making $7.109 million and 76,577 tickets sold each concert. The concerts played at the Estádio Morumbi, São Paulo, on April 9-13, 2011, earned $32.754 million, making it the single highest-grossing engagement of all-time in Latin America.

Japan is the top Asian country with $26 million in 387,000 tickets sold in 21 shows performed, making $1.237 million revenue and 18,405 tickets sold each concert. The most successful concerts were performed on December 4-5, 2019, at the Super Arena, Saitama, with $5.172 million earned each night.

The Estádio Morumbi, São Paulo, is the highest-grossing venue with $82.659 million earned from 851,965 tickets sold in 11 shows performed, followed by Croke Park, Dublin ($62.2 million), Stade de France, Paris ($60.2 million), Madison Square Garden, New York City ($45.1 million) and Wembley Stadium, London ($40.2 million).

The concert at the Estádio Morumbi, São Paulo, in 2011, is the highest-grossing single concert with $10.918 million, followed by Stade de France, Paris ($10.451 million; 2009), Wembley Stadium, London ($10.340 million; 2009), Stade de France, Paris ($10.175 million) and Croke Park, Dublin ($9.964 million).

The concert at the Campo Volo, Reggio Emilia, in 1997, is the most-attended single concert with 150,000 tickets sold, followed by Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid (115,000 tickets; 1987), Rose Bowl, Pasadena (97,014 tickets; 2009), Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (94,326 tickets; 2011) and FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (94,232 tickets; 2011).


U2 | Year by YearBox Office
2019$73,787,641
566,576
15 shows
2018$125,600,371
923,730
59 shows
2017$316,990,940
2,713,136
50 shows
2015$152,228,226
1,286,416
76 shows
2011$232,362,905
2,387,535
34 shows
2010$192,420,949
1,813,221
32 shows
Total (2010-2019)Revenue: $1,093,391,032
Tickets Sold: 9,690,614
Shows: 266
2009$311,637,730
3,071,290
44 shows
2006$94,252,029
1,200,479
21 shows
2005$294,795,607
3,418,542
110 shows
2001$143,472,379
2,179,642
113 shows
Total (2000-2009)Revenue: $844,157,745
Tickets Sold: 9,869,953
Shows: 288
1998$33,144,315
690,926
15 shows
1997$140,466,549
3,291,731
78 shows
1993$71,119,636
2,499,752
53 shows
1992$80,095,778
2,850,802
103 shows
1990$703,000
38,500
4 shows
Total (1990-1999)Revenue: $325,529,278
Tickets Sold: 9,371,711
Shows: 253
1989$14,903,500
676,000
43 shows
1987$56,278,095
3,176,952
109 shows
1986$4,041,935
116,116
6 shows
1985$9,723,537
731,419
54 shows
1984$4,958,618
358,678
49 shows
1983$2,129,635
226,035
82 shows
1982$692,500
98,700
35 shows
1981$1,377,848
194,880
142 shows
1980$647,026
96,475
99 shows
Total (1980-1989)Revenue: $94,752,694
Tickets Sold: 5,675,255
Shows: 619

 

Year by Year:

According to compiled dates performed from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019, ‘The Joshua Tree’ earned $73.8 million from 566,000 tickets sold in 15 shows performed on their last year touring, making $4.919 million from 37,772 tickets sold each concert. U2 ranked at number thirty four highest-grossing artists of the year on the 2019 Year End charts.

The most successful year was 2017 with $317 million earned from 2.713 million tickets sold in 50 shows. It was the highest-grossing single calendar year in history at the time, but it was passed by Ed Sheeran in the following year. They have a total of nine single calendar years grossing over $100 million in ticket sales.

The first year performing as part of the ‘U2 360°’ tour became the first time in history that an artist earned over $300 million in ticket sales in a single calendar year. 2009 earned a total of $311.6 million from 3.071 million tickets sold in 44 shows, with $188.3 million earned from 24 dates played in Europe and another $123.3 million earned from 20 dates played in North America.

The 2010s decade earned $1.093 billion from 9.691 million tickets sold in 266 shows performed, making $4.109 million revenue and 36,432 tickets sold each concert. The band was the highest-grossing artists of the decade and it was the first time in history that an artist earned over $1 billion in the period.

The 2000s decade earned $844.2 million from 9.870 million tickets sold in 288 shows performed, making $2.931 million revenue and 34,271 tickets sold each concert. A total of 36.91% of the revenue comes from 2009 with $311.6 million from 3.071 million tickets sold in 44 shows performed.

The 1990s decade earned $325.5 million from 9.372 million tickets sold in 253 shows performed, making $1.286 million revenue and 37,043 tickets sold each concert. A total of 43.16% of the revenue comes from 1997 with $140.5 million from 3.292 million tickets sold in 78 shows performed.

The 1980s decade earned $94.8 million from 5.675 million tickets sold in 619 shows performed, making $0.154 million revenue and 9.173 tickets sold each concert. A total of 59.08% of the revenue comes from 1987 with $56.3 million from 3.177 million tickets sold in 109 shows performed.

The overall averages from U2’s yearly numbers are — $107.174 million revenue; 1.573 million tickets sold; and 65 shows performed per year in activity.


In the following table, the total revenues for each tour and orphan shows are converted based on 2021’s dollar (USD). The convertion measures the power of the revenue adapted to the past year’s inflation rate.

 

U2 | Adjusted Ticket SalesRevenue (2021)
The Joshua Tree (2017-2019)$428.63 million
Experience + Innocence (2018)$135.54 million
Innocence + Experience (2015)$174.04 million
U2 360° (2009-2011)$912.64 million
Vertigo (2005-2006)$535.70 million
Elevation (2001)$219.64 million
PopMart (1997-1998)$292.24 million
ZooTV (1992-1993)$288.05 million
Lovetown (1989-1990)$34.01 million
The Joshua Tree (1987)$134.24 million
The Unforgettable Fire (1984-1985)$37.42 million
War (1983)$5.79 million
October (1981-1982)$4.24 million
Boy (1980-1981)$3.94 million
11 O’Clock Tick Tock (1980)$0.28 million
Orphan (1980-2021)$9.99 million
TotalRevenue: $3.216 billion
Gain: $858.56 million
Price: $92.94

 

Adjusted Ticket Sales (ATS):

As for the lifetime adjusted revenue, the cumulative tally of U2 is up to $3.216 billion in adjusted ticket sales. This total is up by $858.6 million added to the original number and the overall average price is now up by 36.42%, based on 2021 dollar.

The ‘U2 360°’ tour remains as the most successful concert tour with a box office now at $912.6 million in adjusted ticket sales, bringing a average revenue of $8.297 million per concert. And the lifetime average revenue now jumps to $2.255 million.

Stay tuned for recaps from other artists coming soon to our website. Follow @touringdata on Twitter for more coverage about touring industry.


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