Metallica break SoFi Stadium record thanks to in-the-round stage

Metallica have broken the attendance record for a concert at Los Angeles SoFi Stadium thanks to their innovative in-the-round stage design.

The veteran rockers sold 80,000 tickets for the first night of their two-gig stop at the home of the NFL’s Raiders and Rams. The venue confirmed this was the biggest crowd at the venue since it opened in November 2020, dwarfing the numbers who watched Taylor Swift recently.

The Metallica show’s in-the-round stage design is said to have helped Metallica to shift more tickets than other artists. Relocating the famed Snake Pit to the centre of the stage has allowed for more space to fit punters in.

Metallica also attracted 76,000 on the second night of their stop in Los Angeles, meaning more than 156,000 tickets were sold for both shows.

The band are playing two gigs in each city they visit on their M72 World Tour. Each night features two completely different setlists. Organisers claim around 90-95% of attendees are watching both shows to see the different sets.

.@Metallica now holds the highest single-show attendance record at #SoFiStadium. Thank you for two incredible sold-out nights! ⚡️🤘#M72LA pic.twitter.com/bnxV7sLKAJ

— SoFi Stadium (@SoFiStadium) August 28, 2023

According to Billboard, Metallica’s giant ring-shaped stage also includes eight towers of monitors and speakers, with each tower anchored by a raised platform that also functions as VIP seating, with eight folding chairs using  the black-and-yellow colour scheme of the band’s new album, 72 Seasons.

The M72 World Tour launched in Amsterdam in April with the final 2023 date in Detroit in November. The tour resumes again in Munich next May and is set to finish in Mexico City in September 2024.

Around 70,000 fans were reported to have watched each of Taylor Swift’s six concerts at SoFi at the beginning of August. The 2022 Super Bowl attracted 70,240, which is the maximum capacity of the stadium for a sporting event.