The band sold $123 million worth of tickets to its stadium tour, while Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band came in second with $94.5 million, said trade publication Pollstar.Among all-time tours, the U2 trek ranks at No. 5, Pollstar said. The Rolling Stones hold the record with $162 million from their 2005 outing. U2’s 2005 tour is No. 3 on the all-time list with $138.9 million.
Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni said the overall concert business bucked the recession, mirroring a similar phenomenon at movie theaters. He said most people go to only one or two shows a year, and are willing to pay a premium for good seats.
Pollstar said U2 played to 1.3 million people at 20 shows on the North American leg of its world tour and charged an average of $93.77. The average price on the band’s 2003 tour, when it played 78 shows, was actually higher at $97.