KNOXVILLE, TN (February 15, 2023) – Visit Knoxville announced today that Knoxville is officially a Top 50 concert market nationally. This is according to Pollstar’s Concert Market Rankings for 2023. Pollstar manages the live entertainment industry’s most comprehensive database of ticket sales. 

Knoxville is ranked #41 on this list, moving up the charts from last year’s #97. This 56-spot vault awards Knoxville the single largest jump in the country. Knoxville’s tickets sales ranking, when compared to its DMA (Destination Market Area) Rank at #62 is particularly impressive, demonstrating how enthusiastically the community supports its live entertainers. 

“This national ranking really highlights Knoxville on the map as a live entertainment destination,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “Music and performances enhance both the visitor experience and the quality of life for local residents, and it’s exciting for us as the CVB to work with and promote our incredible partners in the industry.” 

A number of local venues contribute to these statistics, including the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, Thompson-Boling Arena, the Tennessee Theatre, the Bijou Theatre, and others. These venues have booking arms including ASM Global, OVG360, and Live Nation that contribute to the collective success of Knoxville’s live music scene. 

“The overwhelming support from those purchasing tickets continues to make Knoxville a top destination for touring shows,” said Mitch List, Assistant General Manager of the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum. “We look forward to building on this momentum and having a full calendar in 2023 with a variety of touring shows.”  

“It’s an honor to be a part of Knoxville’s top-tier concert market,” said Jason Pedone, Director of Thompson-Boling Arena. “We are thankful to be part of a vibrant community that values live entertainment and congratulate everyone on their successes this past year – artists, promoters, venues and business partners alike. The city’s meteoric rise is validation of the University of Tennessee’s vision for Thompson-Boling Arena and its commitment to being a major multi-purpose arena. With OVG360 as an outstanding partner, we feel that we are only getting started. Special thanks to all the fans for making this possible.”  

“The Tennessee Theatre is proud to contribute to this Top 50 ranking for the Knoxville market,” said Becky Hancock, Executive Director of the Tennessee Theatre. “In the last year, our patrons have shown they are eager for great entertainment of all types, and ticket sales have outpaced even pre-pandemic levels. We have a lot more exciting concerts and events to fill our calendar in 2023 and beyond, and we look forward to seeing residents and visitors alike at the Tennessee Theatre.” 

“Knoxvillians' love for music is the heartbeat that has kept the Bijou Theatre alive for the last 114 years,” said Courtney Bergmeier, Executive Director of the Bijou Theatre. “There aren't many places that provide a greater sense of community than live music venues: hundreds of people gathered together, singing along with total strangers and making new friends through their shared love of music. Concerts allow us to give joy, happiness, and unforgettable memories to our community, and we're so fortunate to be in a place that responds to that gift with love and support.” 

Pollstar, The Voice of Live Entertainment for over 40 years, provides the most up-to-date, relevant and useful data available for the global concert industry, delivering an unmatched archive of live entertainment data, a focus on editorial excellence, and the most powerful metrics of entertainment industry success available anywhere. 

https://data.pollstar.com/Chart/2022/12/121922_cmr.chart_1030.pdf 

ABOUT VISIT KNOXVILLE 
Visit Knoxville (Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau) is the official CVB for the City of Knoxville and Knox County. Visit Knoxville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, private company that works together with the community, business leaders and local and state government to further develop Knoxville as a premier leisure, meetings and travel destination. Tourism is the second highest grossing industry in the state of Tennessee. Knoxville/Knox County annually produces over $1 billion in travel spending. For more information, visit visitknoxville.com and follow on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter

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Kristen Combs  Director of Communications  Visit Knoxville  865.306.4341  kcombs@knoxville.org