 If the early weeks are any indication, high-attendance at Detroit-area concerts point to a healthy Summer Season for outdoor amphitheaters. The DTE Energy Music Theatre, in Clarkston, Michigan—one of the consistently top grossing outdoor amphitheaters in the U.S.—hosted a sold out performance by Eddie Money on May 25, near-capacity crowd for Fall Out Boy Boy on May 27 and a sold out show for Montgomery Gentry on June 2. "We are encouraged by the early crowds we've seen at DTE Energy Music Theatre," said Tom Wilson, President and CEO of Palace Sports & Entertainment (PS&E), whose venues also include The Palace at Auburn Hills.
This fast start marks only the third time the venue has sold out two of its first three Summer Season concerts in the 17 years of PS&E ownership. "For a variety of reasons—inclement weather, school activities, and NBA and NHL playoffs among them—the summer concert attendance traditionally hasn't really taken off until July so we are pleased by the turnout of our early shows," added Wilson.
PS&E has made substantial improvements to the DTE Energy Music Theatre to further enhance the audience  experience. "The efforts we've made to continually upgrade our facilities have had a positive effect with concert-goers," said Wilson. "From the early feedback we’ve received, concert-goers have really taken to the totally rebuilt Main Concessions area at DTE Energy Music Theatre, from its outdoor bar, 'On The Rocks,' to its barbeque area, it has become the new hot spot within the grounds."
 Although shows are still being booked, the current DTE Energy Music Theatre Schedule ranges from contemporary acts such as Toby Keith, BareNaked Ladies, Tool and The Fray, to classic rock stars, including Foreigner, Stevie Nicks, Doobie Brothers, Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent, and Psychedelic Furs.
While the early years of this decade showed an industry-wide downturn in ticket sales for summer concerts, the last  three years have seen steady growth and Wilson is cautiously optimistic this upturn can be sustained. "It is far too early to project if it will be a better concert season than last year's," said Wilson. "The economy in our area is a concern, which is why we've tried harder than ever to provide affordable ticket options, but we're still adding shows and we're optimistic people will still continue the tradition of enjoying outdoor concerts." |
