Last week marked a milestone in Denver’s vibrant music scene drawing the largest known attendance for concerts in a four day period that filled an estimated 220,000 total seats for multiple blockbuster shows. From August 7-10, the usual stadium and arena occupants – the Broncos, Rockies, Avalanche and Nuggets - were replaced by some of the biggest names in music, including The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Zac Brown Band and the Backstreet Boys, among others.

Locals and out-of-towners alike flocked to Coors Field, Pepsi Center and Broncos Stadium at Mile High, each hosting packed crowds on consecutive evenings. During the same period, some of Denver’s more traditional concert venues also filled to capacity with multiple shows including Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre and Mission Ballroom, Denver’s newest concert venue.

“This was an epic week for Denver’s music scene and for our local economy,” said Richard W. Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER. “When you look beyond the ticket sales, these are concerts that bring large numbers of visitors and also help fill our restaurants and hotels, generating huge economic impact for our city.”

Downtown Denver hotels saw a spike in room occupancy, reaching 98 percent, with hotels metro-wide reaching 94 percent, due in part to visiting concert goers who can make up 40% or more of the attendance of a blockbuster concert.

Brian Kitts, director of marketing and communications for Denver Arts & Venues, commented, “Denver already has one of the most supportive music communities in the country, and music venues from small clubs to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre to mass market venues all do some terrific business. Denver’s easy accessibility means that tours are able to reach the city and, importantly, so are fans.”  

The week also featured signature performances by local Denver greats Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, who had the privilege of opening for the Rolling Stones, and The Lumineers, who played to a sold out crowd at the inaugural show at the Mission Ballroom.