The Tacoma Dome in Washington garnered a boost in business and revenue in 2016, and it even paved the way for one entertainer to achieve a new milestone.
New safety measures also were taken last year when the venue installed metal detectors at all entry doors.
And just before the new year hit, the venue received over $20 million for renovations from the city of Tacoma in December, which owns and operates the facility.
Over the next two years, the money will be invested in new seats, better equipment and remodeling backstage accommodations for the talent, said Kim Bedier, director of venues and events for Tacoma.
“We’re going to make sure their comfort levels are as good as our fans’ comfort levels,” Bedier said.
Last year, famous bands and artists added millions to the venue’s coffers, with AC/DC kicking off its 2016 tour in February. The dome logged $2.5 million in gross revenue from the 22,300 guests that attended the show.
“It’s actually the ninth time they played in the dome,” Beider said, highlighting that the lead singer Brian Johnson performed the show before he left the tour due to health issues.
A proud moment for the venue last year was when Drake hit his highest single-day attendance when he took stage at the Tacoma Dome in September where 18,544 guests attended, bringing in roughly $1.8 million in gross revenue for the dome, according to the venue.
Such shows helped increase revenue, which was up 17 percent in 2016 compared to 2015, said Tacoma Dome Booking Manager Tom Alexander.
“We’ve been doing quite well,” he said. “We’re very fortunate.”
One aspect of the dome that helps it excel, especially on the booking side, is that it doesn’t have a resident sports tenant eating away days on the calendar.
“There are 11 venues within 80 miles of us,” Alexander said. “We are able to book when other venues don’t have availability. It’s an absolute blessing that we don’t have a sports tenant. We’re definitely a top tier market. Many tours like to start here, because of the geographic nature of where we’re located, or end a tour here. ”
The venue hosts 27 high school graduations each year, holds RV shows and home and garden shows. The sporting events the venue does host include high school championships.
It also hosts an annual Tacoma Guitar Show, where guitar players — amateurs and professionals alike — come together and learn from one another. Big name guitar vendors also set up booths and sponsor the event, Alexander said.
“I lived in Dallas for seven years, and they have a massive guitar show that has been going on for 40 years,” he said. Therefore, when Alexander got the job three years ago at the Tacoma Dome, he rallied to do a guitar show at the venue.
The first year was small, and the venue was on a shoestring budget, he said, but last year it gained more attention. This year it has great vendors and sponsors, including Fender, Gibson, Yamaha and Guitar Center.
“The quality of vendors and international manufacturers is definitely raising our sponsorship revenue,” Alexander said.
He has no doubt that 2017 will be more successful than last year. “Our calendar is completely full,” he said.
“We’re definitely a top tier, must play market,” Alexander said.
The talent lineup for 2017 includes Bruno Mars, Blake Shelton, Roger Waters and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
“I’m looking forward to a ton of high profile shows this year that are not confirmed or announced yet,” Alexander said.
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TACOMA DOME RINGS IN BIG NAMES, BIG CROWDS
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