Graphic
Staples Center logs a record-breaking 2013 with concerts
When Jay Z brought his Magna Carta World Tour to Staples Center last week, it wasn’t just the last concert of 2013 for the venue. The show was the final entry in what proved to be a banner year for Staples, one that helped break its own record for number of concerts in a calendar year (Jay Z was show No. 53, easily topping the previous high of 38 shows in 2011).
In 2013, pop heavyweights including Taylor Swift, One Direction, Kanye West and Beyoncé played sold-out shows at Staples. New competition is on the horizon when the Forum in Inglewood reopens in January after a multimillion-dollar face-lift courtesy of Madison Square Garden Co. In advance of a new year of shows beginning with George Strait’s farewell tour in February, here’s a breakdown of Staples Center’s record-breaking year in concerts by the numbers.
By Gerrick D. Kennedy
1
4
10
35
53
130
178
380
490
1,300
6,500
10,600
23,400
25,000
31,000
156,000
156,000
468,000
751,600
7.6 million
73,762,000
1
Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times
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1 awards show hosted, the 55th annual Grammy Awards. |
4
Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times
|
4 sold-out shows from Taylor Swift’s 2013 Red tour, which helped her claim the record for the solo artist with the most sellouts at Staples (she has 11 overall). |
10
Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times
|
10 acts performed over three days during the inaugural BET Experience festival, which used Staples Center as one of its stages. |
35
Christopher Polk / Getty Images for AEG
|
35 concerts sold out. |
53
Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times
|
53 shows, breaking the venue’s 2011 record of 38. |
130
Alexander Gallardo / Los Angeles Times
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130 security team members staffed each show. |
178
Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times
|
178 hours of concerts. |
|
380 guest services and security team uniforms were washed after each show. |
490
Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times
|
490 semi trucks took equipment in and out of Staples. |
1,300
Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times
|
1,300-plus songs were sung. |
6,500
Adam Berry / Bloomberg News
|
6,500 pounds of candy left concession stands. |
|
10,600 stagehands required to build and take down concerts this year. |
23,400
Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times
|
23,400 pretzels eaten. |
25,000
Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times
|
25,000 pizzas ordered. |
31,000
Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times
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31,000 hot dogs consumed. |
156,000
Emile Wamsteker / Bloomberg
|
156,000 sodas were sold. |
156,000
Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times
|
156,000 margaritas were poured. |
468,000
Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times
|
468,000 beers were consumed. |
751,600
Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times
|
751,600-plus tickets sold. |
7.6 million
Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times
|
$7.6 million in sales of concert merchandise. |
|
$73,762,000 in ticket sales. |
