The Save Mart Center at Fresno State is the second-ranked collegiate arena through the third quarter of 2012 based on ticket sales for entertainment events, as reported by Pollstar, the leading trade publication for the concert industry.
Among the Top 200 arenas in the world, only 20 are on college of university campuses. On the Top 200 list, the Save Mart Center ranked 45th in the United States and 87th in the world in ticket sales from Jan. 1-Sept. 30.
The Save Mart Center also was rated eighth – fifth in the United States – by Venues Today magazine in the article “Top Stops of the Decade” published in the September 2012 issue. The arena on the Fresno State campus was ranked among venues with a capacity of 10,000-15,000.
The ranking is based on total gross ticket sales reported for the past decade, making this especially sweet, said Steve Tadlock, regional general manager for SMG, which manages the Save Mart Center.
The high ranking, Tadlock added, “is really a testament to our community and region, and our fans who have consistently purchased tickets to support our shows. The fact that Save Mart Center has not yet reached its ninth anniversary also makes this ranking even more special.”
Save Mart Center opened Nov. 7, 2003, with Andrea Bocelli in concert. Since then, the Save Mart Center’s gross ticket sales totaled more than $79 million and attendance totaled nearly 1.6 million.
Debbie Adishian-Astone, Fresno State’s associate vice president for Auxiliary Operations, said, “We are very excited that the Save Mart Center received this prominent ranking. We are very fortunate to have such a premier entertainment venue in our community, which has made a positive economic impact throughout our region. The diversity and quality of the events that have occurred over the past nine years has been very impressive.”
The Save Mart Center’s 2012 lineup has included Drake, Lady Antebellum, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Miranda Lambert, Mana and New Edition. Last week’s sold-out Justin Bieber show will be counted in Pollstar’s year-end ranking along with dates for Cirque du Soleil – Dralion, Katt Williams, Winter Jam, MMG Tour (Rick Ross), Daughtry/3 Doors Down and Dreamworks’ “How to Train Your Dragon -Live Spectacular.”
In addition, the Save Mart Center is home of Fresno State Bulldog men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. It also hosts the university’s annual Commencement and other campus celebrations.
For more information, contact Mitzi Evans, Save Mart Center director of sales and marketing, 559.347.3415.
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