U2 Top Grossing Concerts 2009
The concert industry continued a recession-proof boom in 2009, with U2’s “360 Tour”leading the way, according to year-end numbers issued by ticket resale marketplace StubHub.
The eBay unit’s gross dollar sales for concert tickets increased 40% from 2008, marking a second consecutive year of growth at that level, while there was a 65% increase in concert ticket volume.
U2’s elaborate show was the top-grossing tour of the year, as well as the top-grossing concert tour in StubHub’s 10-year history, outdoing “Hannah Montana”and Police tours in 2007-08 and Madonna’s “Sticky and Sweet”trek of last year.
Trailing the Irish band as top grossers this year were Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, the Dave Matthews Band, Elton John, the Jonas Brothers, Kenny Chesney and Metallica.
U2 was responsible for nine of the 10 top-grossing individual concerts of 2009, with a pair of shows at New Jersey’s Giants Stadium heading the list. A Springsteen venue-closing concert at Giants Stadium ranked 10th.