A year ago, we reported that Cirque du Soleil’s Delirium had made it into the Top 10 tours of 2006, as published in the Year-End Charts issue of Billboard Magazine. And we can say the same this year!
Delirium came in at number six (again), beating out such popular acts as Aerosmith, Tim McGraw/Faith Hill and the Dave Matthews Band. Their $59.5 million total gross was only bested by:
- The Police Reunion, $212.2 million (66 performances, average $114 per ticket)
- Genesis Reunion, $129 million (46 performances, average $102 per ticket)
- Justin Timberlake, $126.8 million (106 performances, average $78 per ticket)
- Kenny Chesney, $71.2 million (55 performances, average $62 per ticket)
- Rod Stewart, $70 million (56 performances, average $93 per ticket)
- Delirium, $59.4 million (150 performances, average $87 per ticket)
While this looks impressive, an analysis of the figures presents a different view. We’ve attached the chart as an EXCEL spreadsheet for you to download and manipulate to your heart’s content with our download HERE.
There are many factors that lead to a show’s total gross dollars – number of performances, theater capacity, attendance, and ticket price being primary. It’s in these numbers where Delirium lacks in relation to the other acts in the Top 25 rankings.
Deliriums total gross is listed at $59,447,450.00 (2006’s gross was $78,529,777). They sold out the next to least number of performances, at four (2006-two). Though they rank ninth in the number of possible seats that they could have sold (836,070, 2006-1,356,514), they sold 679,754 (2006-892,714), the lowest percentage (81%, 2006-66%) of anyone on the chart other than Rush (what, are they still together?). The average attendance per show was also lowest, at 4,532 (2006-6,157) per show. Their average gross per show was second lowest, at $396,316 (2006-$541,585); the only act with lower grosses, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, charged half of Delirium’s $87 (2006-$88) average ticket price.
Then how did Delirium get onto the chart? Hard work! Their total gross is spread over 150 performances (145 in 2006), far more than anyone else on the chart except Justin Timberlake (at 106). They played almost three times as many shows, on average, as any other act. The most shows at the lowest attendance can still equal high grosses, a model that seems to work for Cirque and presenter Live Nation.
A further look reveals that the concert business was down in 2007 compared to 2006 (when there were megabuck tours like the Rolling Stones and Madonna to tip the averages). But it seems Cirque and Live Nation are now putting Delirium into smaller venues better suited for the projected attendance. Though they had almost the same amount of shows, their total capacity went down 40% (while total gross only went down 32%). And they managed to fill that capacity better, raising their capacity percentage to 81%, up from 66%.
It might be more fair to rate Delirium against other “special performance” type shows, such as Cirque Dreams, against which it would certainly excel on all financial fronts. It is the “odd duck” nature of Delirium – not quite a regular Cirque du Soleil show, not quite a musical concert in the traditional sense – that keeps it from fitting into almost any category.
Here’s a review of where Delirium ranks in the standings:
- Total Gross – 6th (again)
- Total attendance – 12th (2006-9th)
- Total capacity available – 9th (2006-3rd)
- Number of shows – First (again)
- Number of sellouts – Next to last (2006-Last)
- Average attendance per show – Last (again)
- Average capacity per show – Next to last (2006-Last)
- Average gross per show – Next to last (2006-21st)
- Average ticket price – 8th (2006-6th)
Check out the figures for yourself with our download HERE.
