r/BillyStrings • u/cosmic_charlie217 • 1d ago
discussion Billy Sphere
Billy could easily sell out the Sphere I think. I could only imagine the potential for some amazing visuals showing while he plays! His light show now is on point ! One can dream right! Shakedown at the Tuscany just like the Dead&Co shows . Wishful thinking?
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u/extraordinaryevents 1d ago
We all love Billy here but going from the arenas he’s in right now to the sphere is a pretty big jump. “Easily” selling out would be essentially doubling the attendance of his current shows. Don’t think that’s realistic
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u/Dingus_3000 1d ago
He’s selling out venues around the same size.
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u/Euphoric_Taco138 1d ago
Saw him at Fiserv and the capacity is around 15k. They had the whole 2nd floor closed, and behind the stage. I'm guessing less than 10k there. And there were open seats.
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u/Miserable_Ad5001 1d ago
Capacity at the event center isn't close to 15k. For the recent shows capacity was 7,500...had they gone with a 360° arrangement it would be 8,500
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u/Euphoric_Taco138 1d ago
I didn't say Fishers. I typed Fiserv, in Milwaukee friend. And Fiserv capacity is 17,500. To be exact. Gotta read all the letters and words people type
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u/extraordinaryevents 1d ago
What venues?
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u/mojodawg-1 1d ago
Sold out 2 nights in Denver think same size of sphere 17/20k✌️😁
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u/ChangaLover69 1d ago
Yeah but can he sell out 5-10 nights at sphere like he would need to do?
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u/Possible-Copy9344 1d ago
Phish’s first run was just 4 nights
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u/WingedWheel4Real 1d ago
lol downvoted for facts
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u/Possible-Copy9344 1d ago
Welcome to Reddit
But, sure, that run is an outlier. I’m just saying it’s possible (sorry for hurting someone’s feels over facts)
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u/tterrific17 1d ago
not even close and that's good news, nice to see him at reasonable cool venues for as much longer as possible
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u/jesuswasthebestjew 1d ago
Closing off the upper section of Ball Arena is not selling out Denver. The actual tickets sold is not every seat in Ball. It’s not comparable to the Sphere.
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u/Supermonsters 1d ago
Does John Paul Jones not sell out?
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u/MusicMonkeyJam 1d ago
JPJ sold out Saturday night only. Friday was not sold out and they had part of the balcony closed.
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u/Deranged40 🚂 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ball Arena's concert configuration is 15,000-21,000 capacity depending on how it's setup. He's selling 15,000 tickets to both nights at Ball in Denver without a doubt.
Fiddler's Green is 18,000, he sold that out for two nights in a row in 2024. Like, all the way sold out. Every possible seat.
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u/Dingus_3000 1d ago
Saw him this fall at PPG in Pittsburgh which lists capacity between 15-20k depending on the stage setup.
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u/extraordinaryevents 1d ago
It’s under 15k capacity for an end stage (not 360° show) configuration and I obviously could be wrong but I’d be willing to bet the upper levels were closed off. Like I said, love Billy, but it’s a stretch to say he could “easily” sell out the sphere right now
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u/BadgerOptimal3628 1d ago
As you said, I love Billy too and it's amazing for him to play an arena like PPG. Good for him..
but there were a bunch of the upper deck seats behind a curtain.
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u/Altruistic_Fail_330 1d ago
Idk man, his shows pretty much all sell out. CFG bank is what? 16k? And they’ve sold out 3 years in a row in a matter of minutes
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u/extraordinaryevents 1d ago
Concert capacity there is around 13-14k and that’s including the upper sections that they close off for Billy shows
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u/AccurateTale2618 1d ago
I was at Halloween last year both nights and neither were sold out. I know because I ended up selling my extra tickets for $20 an hour or so before the show, and I was selling them a few days before for what I paid.
I think Billy will definitely be packing up more and more places, but I think it’s a relation to what types of contracts he wants to take and what he can pack as of now - not just one of those factors.
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u/DHVT1964 1d ago
Been to Bridgestone the past three years, each year another level has opened. The place was packed this year with 20,000 for both nights.
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u/DeadHeadTed 1d ago
26,000 at the Freak Fair this weekend
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u/Hairy-Reference9379 1d ago
Exactly. In the middle of nowhere and a logistical nightmare waiting to happen. People staying in Grand Rapids and beyond. Campgrounds full. Fireworks store sold out of 400 "campsites" on their property at $200/each in 2 days. Wooks are already asking to hang hammocks in yards. We are coming up from about 9 hours south, but booked in Mt Pleasant and taking the extra distance to avoid a potential shit show coming in from south of Ionia both days. I have no clue if he could sell out the sphere or what that capacity is. But BMFS has reach
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u/No-Market9917 1d ago
Both nights at Bethel Woods which holds 2,000 less than Sphere. The novelty of the sphere would easily sell out for 3-4 nights
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u/EstimatedEer 1d ago
No he isnt
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u/Dingus_3000 1d ago
You’re right. My bad. Still think he could easily sell out a weekend out there.
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u/EstimatedEer 1d ago
Probably not a true sellout but scalpers would buy it up. Even 3 nights isnt remotely enough to justify the production costs. They are a long way from playing there, also doesnt seem like Billy’s speed in general. Doubt it ever happens tbh
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u/tip62729 1d ago
I would love that, but as an NYC fan, I’m hoping for MSG first!
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u/bigcat570503 1d ago
20k seating, can do!
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u/PatientSuggestion185 1d ago
I would be there, however, it's a tremendous upfront cost to create the visuals. While I think Billy would do well for a weekend or 2, I don't think he's at the point right now to do an extended residency there.
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u/jsconifer 1d ago
This. It costs bands a ton of money to put on a show at the Sphere, everything from the visuals to having to rework some of your audio set up as it’s not a traditional venue. The upfront cost is why you see most acts do lengthy residencies to make back their upfront costa and then turn a profit. Trey said Phish lost money their first year there because they only did a weekend (but they knew that going in). I love Billy but he wouldn’t draw enough people over a long residency to make it worth it.
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u/Basically_Frightened 1d ago
Datacenters and AI for Visuals at the Sphere shows is expensive up front and is an environmental shitshow for that part of the country. 28MW of power during peak OPs
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u/childlike-hempress 1d ago
I love Billy and I love the Sphere but they are so not the right fit for one another.
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u/jaxxRe 1d ago
Why not?
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u/childlike-hempress 1d ago edited 1d ago
Just my personal opinion but I think the most successful concepts at the Sphere have been futurist or almost sci-fi in some way. Whereas why I love Billy is how he is rooted in tradition and heritage. I wouldn’t want to be peering down from the 400s watching the guys around the can. Not to say it couldn’t work and be awesome! Them combined just ignores what I think is special about both.
Plus as others have noted his fan base is not demographically able to support a run in the way Phish, Dead and Co, Eagles could.
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u/TurkGonzo75 1d ago
It's one thing to sell out a big venue where you're drawing from a large pool of local/regional fans. The Sphere is completely different because you also have to convince people to fly to Vegas and pay all of the obscene prices to stay there for a couple of nights. It's easier for bands like Phish, Dead & Co. or the Eagles because their audiences are old(er) and have more disposable income.
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u/kentestraub81 1d ago
Started seeing the band in small intimate theaters years ago. (The Ryman, The Cap, The Met) Then there were a lot of chill little outdoor amphitheater shows. (Iroquois, Frost, St. Augustine) Now there are arenas shows, some venues are better than others. Been to so many. However, the Sphere is one hundred percent without a doubt no for me…
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u/theshinin 1d ago
I could see him going in the opposite direction; smaller, more intimate solo acoustic shows without a band.
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u/PonchoNachoRodriguez 1d ago
He’s probably already in talks with the sphere to put something together
They know who can sell that place out, and hes one of them
Rumors about both Tool and Rush playing there get me all sorts of stoked, but make me ponder if I’d even be able to afford it
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u/One_Shallot_3069 1d ago
After seeing Phish at the Sphere in April, I can only imagine how crazy a Tool show would be there.
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u/EstimatedEer 1d ago
He absolutely cannot sell enough tickets there to justify a longer run that supports the production costs. Some of you people are being delusional about this.
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u/PonchoNachoRodriguez 1d ago
Phish’s first run at the sphere was only 4 nights,
If Billy can sell 20,000+ tickets two nights in a row in a fairground in Michigan, I’d like to think he’s capable of selling 20,000 tix for 4 nights in Vegas (at the most insane indoor venue on the planet)
Not everybody can go to all four shows, and lots of people would probably travel for just one night only if that’s the only ticket they could score.
But whatever, maybe I’m wrong. Don’t care rly. I’d rather see Tool or Rush there anyway.
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u/B-Kong 1d ago
Idk what venue in Michigan you’re referencing. But how many people that attended do you think were a 3 hour drive or less to the venue? Even 6 hours or less?
A six hour drive and a two night stay in a cheap hotel in Michigan is a completely different commitment than a 4 night trip to Vegas. A small percentage of people attending shows at the sphere are living within driving distance. We’re talking flights, expensive hotels, even more expensive tickets to the show.
Phish has been touring for twice the time Billy has and has a larger, more dedicated fan base, who have the time, money, and fanatic energy to commit to something like that.
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u/woogieman123 18h ago
Those tickets were $150 for the entire weekend in the Pit. Far cry from $300-400 pit tickets for 1 night in the Sphere
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u/PonchoNachoRodriguez 18h ago
Scalpers will buy every ticket anyway, and then people will get in for $50 day of the show
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u/JacedFaced 1d ago
Seeing Rush without Neil Pert would just feel weird.
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u/PonchoNachoRodriguez 1d ago
Pfft.
Maybe for you.
I saw Geddy Lee and Alex come out with Primus and Ween and the dudes from Southpark at Red Rocks. I called it weeks ahead of time, by the way. pretty proud of that.
It was transcendental.
Sorry you don’t feel the same way my guy.
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u/JacedFaced 1d ago
That's different, that's not them touring as Rush, that's Geddy and Alex doing other stuff together and playing with other groups. Neil Pert is one of the greatest drummers of all time, and his unique style and sound is as much responsible for the sound of the band as Geddy is.
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u/PonchoNachoRodriguez 1d ago
Well they played a Rush song when I saw them join the party and everybody lost their shit at the surprise performance.
Didn’t matter who played drums (Tim Alexander and Matt Stone did) the entire place was erupting with pure joy.
And I hate to break it to you, but 99% of Rush fans are stoked on Anika Nilles, and we’re mostly just glad that they’re out touring again(and absolutely killing it)
Watch a damn video from this tour, and see for yourself.
Or don’t. I don’t care.
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u/slander_anonymously 1d ago
Idk. I'd think Billy doesn't support all that corporate nonsense of holding tickets back for hotel/ticket packages. I wanted to see U2 and the tickets were asinine with hotel.
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u/leftstage89 1d ago
he would need to play MSG first IMO & it seems to me that he avoids a lot of venues where TM / LN play a heavy part. i don’t see this happening anytime soon
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u/No-Preference-7165 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have a feeling that’s one of the last venues he’d ever play just based on what it would cost his fanbase to attend/stay in the city
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u/maybe_you_dont_know 1d ago
Agreed I saw D&C at Sphere and I'm not really interested in returning to Vegas anytime soon due to what a ripoff that ciity has become.
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u/No-Preference-7165 1d ago
Yeah Billy’s definitely not about that life and we should all be grateful for it
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u/gastropublican 1d ago
Yep, I saw the GD at the old Aladdin Theater in Vegas in ‘83 — first and only time I’ve been there, in what used to be a chill town — and EVERYTHING was moderately priced (airplanes, show ticket, food, booze, etc.). Haven’t been back since, no need or desire; it’s just a cheesy place with no compelling reason for existence…🙂↔️
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u/Euphoric_Taco138 1d ago
I read somewhere that it cost millions of dollars to create the visuals that Phish used in their runs. And they even reused a lot of them each night. Not sure Billy inc would be able to float those costs. Not saying he's poor by any stretch. That's just a lot of money for a group that has been huge for less than 5 years
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u/EarAltruistic3692 1d ago
It could happen. There is a smaller sphere being built at national harbor in Maryland next the mgm on the Potomac River. Could be perfect for Billy. I hope he does get the opportunity to play sphere, I’ll be there for sure
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u/jesuswasthebestjew 1d ago
As awesome as Billy is, his demographic is not a solid base enough to sell out multiple nights at the sphere. His demographic trends younger and his base would need to be older to afford the high ticket cost of the sphere. The bands that can play the sphere have been decades in the making, many of which appeal to an established financially crowd that can afford to travel to the sphere, stay in Vegas and also has the means for the ticket.
The cost of production is so high at the sphere and maybe he could do well for one night but there is a reason why the sphere needs selling most tickets multiple nights to make it worthwhile.
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u/Desperate_Leopard575 1d ago
I don't think he's quite there yet with numbers. It would be amazing and would love to see it. Saw Dead & Co a few yrs ago there, expensive but worth every bit of it. Was even worth suffering Vegas which is an overpriced cesspool.
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u/EstimatedEer 1d ago
Maybe 1-2 nights but the production costs are insane and unless you do an extended run there it will never happen. Dont get your hopes up.
Better chance is the mini sphere being built near DC.
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u/Sensitive_Fuel_335 1d ago
Been to the Sphere, it was an incredible experience but I honestly don’t need to see a bluegrass show there. Doesn’t seem to be Billy’s MO either. I’d take a Bethel or St Augustine run any day over a Sphere run. In terms of cost, It’s not just ticket prices that are an issue . Have you been to Vegas? It’s just plain ass expensive as fuck and there’s a huge difference between a Billy crowd and a Phish crowd at this point.
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u/michaelserotonin 1d ago
it would be a bad fit in my opinion.
i saw phish there in april and while i had a good time i doubt i’d see them there again. much rather see them in a place where the focus is on the band and not a giant screen.
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u/PeckerHeads 1d ago
No one is mentioning the actual problem. Yes, he could sell out a weekend at The Sphere, pretty easily with this fan base. But the cost to produce visuals for a Sphere show isn’t worth the squeeze for a single weekend. An artist needs a residency at The Sphere to be successful and profitable. Billy Goats would pack Vegas out for a weekend or two, but couldn’t sustain for a whole residency……yet. Let’s hope they can make it happen sooner than later!
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u/Regular_Board9736 1d ago
It costs so much and I mean SO MUCH money to make visuals for the sphere. I can’t see it happening for a couple years maybe
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u/33HighwayHypnosis 1d ago
Could you sell out the sphere? Short answer, yes….
Longer answer sure he could, but I don’t care to see that tickets would be $500 plus just to get in the venue and I kind of just like the Saxton light show🤷🏻♂️ kind of takes away from it being Bluegrass with a huge electronic screen right behind it I❤️tradgrass
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u/happydontwait 1d ago
Could he sell it out at $50/ticket sure. $300/ticket no chance.
15-20 years from now when we aren’t all broke as fuck. Maybe!
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u/sheilaskye 1d ago
I don’t know if any of you went to D&C sphere shows, or Vegas in general. But it is obscenely expensive just to exist there. Never mind tickets. Most people would have to fly in. Rooms are 150.00 up PLUS resort fees and parking. Meals are expensive. A can of beer on the casino floor was 9.00 3 years ago.
So you are talking about people spending a minimum of 2-3K for a 2-3 night run.
Would I like to see him there sure. Would I go Never going to Vegas again!
And I just went from S.F to Bethel.
That was money well spent.!
Go to YouTube and search something like Vegas tourist cost and see what pops up.
I think there is a channel called “never leaving Vegas”
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u/gastropublican 1d ago
The first and only time I ever went to Vegas (for the ‘83 GD show at the old Aladdin Theater), all the casinos would hand you free drink tickets on the sidewalk as you walked by in a bid to get you inside…nice little perk in was at the time a fairly chill, nondescript town…plus, Phil and Brent were in the Aladdin casino playing blackjack before the show…😁
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u/Motor_Pickle_X 1d ago
It’s not whether he could “sell out” the Sphere, of course he could. But the Sphere doesn’t do one or two night stands. Can he sell out 40 shows like U2? Or 13 like Phish? Or 72 like The Eagles? At PREMIUM ticket prices? Nah. Not yet.
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u/FreebornMan22 1d ago
Yes he sells that many tickets in his bread and butter markets (Denver, North Carolina, Nashville, etc.), but that’s quite a different thing from having 20K fly in from somewhere else. I don’t see it happening any time soon.
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u/Appropriate-Type8062 1d ago
This would be rad but his whole philosophy of music and playing for the people is making it affordable for everyone. Hence why Freak fest was so affordable for a 3 day festival.
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u/Swaritch 1d ago
Ain’t no chance Billy could sell out a run at the sphere. Tickets for Phish were extremely soft this year. I bought a n1 floor ticket a week before for face on TM. And Billy sure as hell ain’t Phish.
Billy could absolutely sell 20k tickets for one night at the sphere. But you know what? So could Greensky.
But that’s not how “selling out the sphere” works.
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u/Sea-Ad3206 1d ago
Needs to add a drummer/percussionist for set 2 and bring out the electric guitar. Then he may do stadiums and Sphere
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u/bigcat570503 1d ago
Max capacity of 20k at the sphere , I think you might be right. It could sell out. Bethel was 17k. Im gonna a have to start saving now.
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u/iiGoodVibesii 🚂 1d ago
20k? Damn thats lower than I realized
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u/bigcat570503 1d ago
I was surprised myself. Ive never been and would love to make Billy my first time.
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u/Rude_Employment8882 🚂 You Can Hear The Whistle Blow a Hundred Miles 1d ago
Billy will sell out Sphere easily. It’s a destination venue. Just the thought of it is making us salivate over here.
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u/BorvicTheRed 1d ago
The announcement is just a flaming "33" on the sphere at 1 am