Mt Smart Stadium has been ranked in the top 25 worldwide for outdoor stadiums in 2018. The annual Pollstar Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Outdoor Stadiums report shows Mt Smart Stadium ranked #25, up 39 places from 2017.

Mt Smart Stadium hosted 243,178 music fans in 2018. The biggest touring star of 2018, Ed Sheeran, sold out Mt Smart Stadium for three consecutive nights, setting a New Zealand record. Foo Fighters fans will remember their concert fondly as the Auckland rain stopped just as Dave Grohl run up on stage. Finishing off the mammoth concert year was the visually spectacular Taylor Swift Reputation tour.

James Parkinson, Acting Director Auckland Stadiums, which manages Mt Smart Stadium, said this is a great result for all the hard work that has gone into the stadium.

“2018 has been an immensely busy year for Mt Smart. A huge thank you to Frontier Touring and Live Nation who brought Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, the two highest grossing worldwide tours in 2018 to Mt Smart Stadium. When Ed Sheeran broke the New Zealand record for concert attendance we knew it was going to be a big year for Mt Smart. To be ranked 25 in the world is a huge achievement for all involved and it further shows that Auckland is a great place for artists to play”

The number one ranked stadium was Foro Sol in Mexico with 887,802 ticket sales. Wembley Stadium came in at fifth, ANZ Stadium ranked #11 and Wrigley Field ranked #21. Other notable stadiums on the list were Suncorp Stadium at #40, Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr #42, Old Trafford #57 and Dodger Stadium ranked #99.

In 2017, Mt Smart Stadium ranked #64 with 104,273 fans attending concerts throughout the year. The highest ranked Australian stadium in 2017 was AAMI Park, #41.