Top Crowds that VH performed to as the Top Bill

**The Rover** · 03.28.20, 02:28 AM

What were the top 5 (or more if you want) crowds (attendance number) that Van Halen performed to as the Top Bill?

So there's the US Festival. What's next??

I wondered why VH and their management didn't book and headline stadium shows in 1984. They were certainly popular enough. They did 3 shows in Dallas that year.

**Bugs Meanie** · 03.28.20, 10:51 AM

7/17/88 they (I believe) sold out the 80,000 plus Pontiac Silverdome for Monsters of Rock. They also played the Silverdome the next day/night for over 60,000.

7/19/86 72,000 saw VH headline Texxas Jam at the Cotton Bowl

Those two jump out in front of my memory banks. Unless I'm missing something bigger...

**The Rover** · 03.28.20, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Bugs Meanie

7/17/88 they (I believe) sold out the 80,000 plus Pontiac Silverdome for Monsters of Rock. They also played the Silverdome the next day/night for over 60,000.

7/19/86 72,000 saw VH headline Texxas Jam at the Cotton Bowl

Those two jump out in front of my memory banks. Unless I'm missing something bigger...

Besides the US Festival, I didn't think there were any other big (over 20,000) headlining audiences for CVH, unless there was something in Europe in '84.

**Al Van Bundy** · 03.28.20, 05:55 PM

July 3rd, 2008 - Quebec City Summer Festival

The capacity at Plains of Abraham is 90,000, but I don't know how many were actually in attendance.

**It's Mike** · 03.28.20, 06:10 PM

When they played at molson park in barrie on Canada day 93 they had over 50k.

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**Sam Vs. Dave** · 03.28.20, 09:45 PM

How big were the South American crowds in '83 or whenever they were there? I thought they played soccer stadiums?

**Van Squalen** · 03.28.20, 11:11 PM

80k sold out Monsters ‘88 at the LA Coliseum.

**PrideofPasadena** · 03.29.20, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by The Rover

Besides the US Festival, I didn't think there were any other big (over 20,000) headlining audiences for CVH, unless there was something in Europe in '84.

They played the Carrier Dome in Syracuse once. 1982, '84? That holds 40,000.

**Dave's Dreidel** · 03.29.20, 11:52 AM

The Monsters of Rock shows they did in 1984 in Europe were huge, but AC/DC was top bill if memory serves.

**Robby5150** · 03.29.20, 04:23 PM

my memory is a little fuzy, but I thought they only used like half of the stadium for the Silverdome show.

**Robby5150** · 03.29.20, 04:27 PM

Here is a pretty good thread with a list of top grossing shows of all time. Van Halen makes it a few times.

https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-di...states-history

**Simon Ribeiro** · 03.30.20, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Sam Vs. Dave

How big were the South American crowds in '83 or whenever they were there? I thought they played soccer stadiums?

The crowds were big, but nothing in terms of numbers. Some cools shots and stories, but no data regarding to attendace and stuff. Sorry!

- http://van-halen5150.blogspot.com/20...asil-1983.html
- http://ricardo5150.blogspot.com/2007...no-brasil.html

The 2nd site (BTW, both sites are managed by 02 great friends of mine, Humberto and Ricardo) shows the local legend that the sound map was supposed to be used at the Maracanã Football Stadium. Instead the band played at Maracanãzinho (the 'zinho' suffix means little) Gymnasium using the same stuff that were previously prepared to the Stadium. Back then in the early 1980s, the capacity was something near 30.000 (Sports like Basketball and Volleyball). But I guess that Van Halen got something near to 20.000 when they played there.

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin%C3...can%C3%A3zinho

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin%C3...can%C3%A3zinho