AUBURN HILLS, Mich.(Palace Sports and Entertainment) - DTE
Energy Music Theatre remained the most attended amphitheatre in the world for the 15th consecutive year and was listed as the fourth highest drawing concert venue in the world of any type in 2005, according to the year-end lists of Pollstar magazine, a leading entertainment trade publication.
The lofty status highlighted a busy - and notable - concert year in 2005 for Palace Sports and Entertainment (PS&E) which also included Meadow Brook Music Festival posting its highest season attendance in the 12 years under operation and management of PS&E and the organization taking over the booking and marketing of a third amphitheatre, Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
"We are thankful for the support of our patrons who have maintained their status as the best concert fans in the world," said Tom Wilson, President and CEO of PS&E. "Our goal is to continue to provide memorable days and nights for loyal event-goers and introduce even more people to great experiences at our venues."
Overall, more than 766,000 guests attended DTE Energy Music Theatre's 58 shows, marking the first summer the venue exceeded an average attendance of 13,000. The amphitheatre's 20 sold-out events were its most in four years and included: Reba McEntire/Brad Paisley wsg Terri Clark (May 20); Rascal Flatts wsg Blake Shelton (June 11); Santana wsg Los Lonely Boys and Salvador Santana Band (June 25); Creedence Clearwater Revisited wsg Randy Brock (July 8); John Michael Montgomery wsg Al Lopez (July 10); Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers wsg The Black Crowes (July 20); Lynyrd Skynyrd wsg pinkeye d'gekko (July 21); Montgomery Gentry wsg Bobby Pinson (July 29); 3 Doors Down wsg Staind, Breaking Benjamin and No Address (August 2); Ozzfest 2005 (August 4); Sammy Hagar & The Wabos wsg Montrose (August 6); Alan Jackson wsg Sara Evans and The Wrights (August 7); Journey (August 12); James Taylor and Band (August 13); Motley Crue wsg Sum 41, Silvertide and The Exies (August 24); Ted Nugent wsg Dirty Americans (August 25); Coldplay wsg Rilo Kiley (August 30); BB King Bluesfest: BB King wsg Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Bonamassa (September 1); Brooks & Dunn wsg Big & Rich, The Warren Brothers and Cowboy Troy (September 2); and Randy Travis wsg Craig Morgan (September 9).
Meadow Brook Music Festival on the campus of Oakland University posted its most successful summer as more than 185,000 guests enjoyed 38 events, including sellout shows by Oasis (June 18), Carole King (July 9), Dane Cook (August 27) and Jack Johnson (August 31), among its eclectic mix of entertainment including comedy, family shows, festivals, stage presentations and Detroit Symphony Orchestra performances.
During PS&E's first year of an agreement with Hillside Productions to book and market the amphitheatre at Freedom Hill County Park in Sterling Hts., Michigan, the venue hosted 37 events and attracted more than 101,000. The schedule included a sellout performance by local rocker Ted Nugent (August 23) and several near-capacity crowds for such performers as Lonestar (July 22), Donna Summer (July 31), Travis Tritt (August 5) and 311 (August 17).
Meadow Brook Music Festival and Freedom Hill were listed at number 37 and 57, respectively, on Pollstar's list of the World Top 100 Amphitheatres.
PS&E ownership includes The Palace and DTE Energy Music Theatre. The organization also manages Meadow Brook Music Festival on the campus of Oakland University and books and markets Freedom Hill. Combined, PS&E's Michigan venues average 300 events and 3.5 million guests annually.
The Palace has been voted Arena of the Year eight times by Performance magazine and twice by Pollstar magazine and is listed annually among North America's top-grossing arenas. Voted "Best Outdoor Concert Venue" in Pollstar's 2000 Readers Poll, DTE Energy Music Theatre has been listed as the nation's most attended amphitheater by Amusement Business/Billboard each of the 15 years of PS&E ownership.
PS&E also owns the leasehold rights to the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, a 1999 and 2004 recipient of the Prime Site Award by Facilities & Event Management magazine and one of North America's top-grossing arenas annually.
