FLORIDA... they need to come to FLORIDA.
The current setlist is pretty much what people expect when they go to a Queen show. I couldn't imagine many changes at all. When one goes to see an icon band like this, people want the hits. Yes, adamme! Their 2014 tour missed the Southeast of the USA! I am sure they could sell out arenas in Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Nashville, New Orleans, just to name a few places they missed.
I remain shocked that they could not find a promoter for Miami and Atlanta for QAL NA Tour. Some of the small cities in the south -- Nashville and New Orleans seem more marginal to me.
But after looking at the Q+PR numbers it makes more sense.
They played Miami in 2005 and had to drape off large sections of the arena reducing the capacity from
American Airlines Arena Miami
5,897 / 6,000 (98%) $573,453 Concert capacity about 12,000.
There were not a lot of southern US concert but they were not successful:
Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville 3,769 / 5,000 (75%) $321,135 The concert capacity is > 10,000.
Atlanta - Arena at Gwinnett Center Duluth 5,909 / 9,258 (64%) The capacity is up to 12,000.
There are some parts of the US (Pacific Northwest and most of the West) that are unlikely to get another Queen concert. The 1982 Hot Space Tour of the US was a financial and critical disappointment. Sold out in Boston and Philly, close to in NYC for 2 shows but bad in the West. Here are some examples:
Houston 79% 13,453 / 17,048
Dallas 62% 11,760 / 19,012
Denver 57% 10,264 / 18,000
Oakland 76% 10,969 / 14,500
Portland 56% 6,832 / 12,110
Seattle 83% 9,930 / 12,000
Vancouver 61% BC 10,264 / 16,696
LA Forum - 2 shows - 75% - 20,502 / 27,267
And that is with average ticket prices ranging from $10 to $13. Around $40 in current US dollars.
They tried to return to the Pacific NW with Paul Rodgers who could fill arenas without Queen (and is headlining an arena tour with Bad Company now) -- but that was ever worse --
Quicken Loans Arena Cleveland 6,218 / 9,096 (68%) $421,942
Allstate Arena Rosemont 7,441 / 9,500 (78%) $756,870
The Palace Auburn Hills 10,296 / 10,296 (100%) $707,235
Bradley Center Milwaukee 6,282 / 9,000 (70%) $484,394
Cox Arena San Diego 6,030 / 7,586 (79%) $508,060
Honda Center Anaheim 9,085 / 14,373 (63%) $666,735
MGM Grand Las Vegas 6,359 / 7,800 (82%) $626,355
KeyArena Seattle 4,592 / 12,500 (37%) $463,195
Rose Garden Portland 4,234 / 12,600 (34%) $395,380
The QAL 2014 Tour went to places where Queen and QPR had done well in the past -- like Auburn Hills, Toronto, LA and the Northeast. If they return to the US, I think they will return to places they have filled in the past.Unless there is some kind of festival, I would not expect to see Q+AL in the Southeast or most of the US West.
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Brian said they were going to do something different. I think MAYBE that is not touring or festivals but I don't know what it could be. One thing is sure, they are not done yet.
