AUBURN HILLS, MI (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
Palace Sports and Entertainment's (PS&E) three Michigan venues, DTE Energy Music Theatre, The Palace of Auburn Hills and Meadow Brook Music Festival, combined to host 132 events, including 26 sellouts and in excess of 1,174,000 guests during the summer of 2006. The total attendance represents a 15% increase from 2005's summer turnout.
More than 830,000 attended DTE Energy Music Theatre's 77 shows, including 17 sellouts. The amphitheatre set a personal mark in 2006 when it hosted its latest concert ever, a sold-out show with Aerosmith/Motley Crue on October 11.
The venue's other 2006 sellouts included Dave Matthews Band (June 6); Steve Miller Band (July 7); Sammy Hagar & The Wabos (July 8); Ozzfest 2006 (July 19); Counting Crows/Goo Goo Dolls (July 21); Anita Baker (July 22); Def Leppard/Journey (July 24); Poison (July 28); Earth, Wind & Fire (August 4), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (August 8); Brooks & Dunn (August 13); Ted Nugent (August 17); Mary J. Blige – pavilion only show (August 20); Family Values Tour (September 9); Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band (September 12); and Godsmack/Rob Zombie (September 15).
In addition to the Detroit Pistons' Eastern Conference Finals appearance and the Detroit Shock's WNBA Championship, The Palace enjoyed one if its best summer concert seasons featuring sold out shows by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill (May 5 and 6); Kid Rock (May 12 and 13); Rascal Flatts (June 9); Roger Waters (September 18); Tool (September 22); as well as performances by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (August 31); Mariah Carey (September 9); and The Who (September 29).
Meadow Brook Music Festival on the campus of Oakland University contributed two sellouts: Taking Back Sunday/Angels & Airwaves (June 29) and Ted Nugent (August 18) in its 43-event schedule. The venue also hosted O.A.R. (July 14), Live (July 25), Buddy Guy (August 30) and Ben Harper (September 1) as well as three weekends of performances by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
"We hosted a tremendous line-up of entertainment during the summer of 2006, including such legendary acts as Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Roger Waters and CSNY, along with outdoor concert favorites such as Jimmy Buffett, Steve Miller and Ozzfest," said Tom Wilson, president and CEO of PS&E. "The 132 events we hosted covered a wide spectrum of tastes with something for everyone, while we worked hard to provide value as well as a great night out for area entertainment lovers."
"We are proud of the line-up of shows and we are pleased by the turnout as our area concert-goers proved again this summer why they are the most enthusiastic anywhere."
PS&E ownership includes The Palace and DTE Energy Music Theatre, as well as the management of Meadow Brook Music Festival on the campus of Oakland
University. Combined, PS&E's Michigan venues average 300 events and 3.5 million guests annually.
–Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
