Country music star Garth Brooks performs at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 20, 2018. (Photo: Courtesy of Commercial Integrator.com.)
Carter's Corner: The Swamp Prepares to Host Brooks in Rare Concert
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 | General, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, country music star Garth Brooks will take the stage in front of a sold-out crowd ready for a good time.
That's nothing new for Brooks, one of the entertainment industry's most successful concert draws for three decades. Brooks is currently on a stadium tour across the U.S.
However, it's newfangled for the home of UF's football team.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium last hosted a large-scale concert on Nov. 27, 1994, when the Rolling Stones came to town on their Voodoo Lounge Tour. For more on the concert history in Gainesville, check out this story from the Sun's archives.
The Stones played on a Sunday night in front of more than 39,000 fans to conclude a three-city visit to Florida that included stops in Tampa and Miami the previous week.
Mick Jagger definitely knew his orange and blue audience, although many were still bummed from the day before when the Gators squandered a 28-point lead to tie Florida State 31-31 in Tallahassee.
"Well, well, Gainesville," Jagger said according to The Gainesville Sun, "I hear you guys have got a really, really good football team."
How rare is it for The Swamp to transform from football stadium to concert host?
Other than for past Gator Growl performances, most notably Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2007, the Brooks concert is only the third major show at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the last 39 years. Prior to the Stones' show in '94, the last major act to perform at the stadium was the Eagles on Jan. 27, 1980.
The University Athletic Association operations staff has been working closely with Brooks and concert organizers for months to get ready for Saturday's big show, which includes a massive stage and a week of preparation to get the venue ready.
As for Brooks, the show is a sellout with more than 75,000 tickets sold and will be the largest concert crowd in the 89-year history of the stadium.
Brooks made history six months ago at Notre Dame Stadium when he became the first performer to hold a concert at the storied home of the Fighting Irish. More than 84,000 fans turned out for the concert, which was televised a few weeks later on CBS.
I can't wait until Saturday!! 3rd Garth Show- he is INCREDIBLE live!!
— TB (@t10b10) April 17, 2019
That's nothing new for Brooks, one of the entertainment industry's most successful concert draws for three decades. Brooks is currently on a stadium tour across the U.S.
However, it's newfangled for the home of UF's football team.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium last hosted a large-scale concert on Nov. 27, 1994, when the Rolling Stones came to town on their Voodoo Lounge Tour. For more on the concert history in Gainesville, check out this story from the Sun's archives.
The Stones played on a Sunday night in front of more than 39,000 fans to conclude a three-city visit to Florida that included stops in Tampa and Miami the previous week.
Mick Jagger definitely knew his orange and blue audience, although many were still bummed from the day before when the Gators squandered a 28-point lead to tie Florida State 31-31 in Tallahassee.
"Well, well, Gainesville," Jagger said according to The Gainesville Sun, "I hear you guys have got a really, really good football team."
How rare is it for The Swamp to transform from football stadium to concert host?
Other than for past Gator Growl performances, most notably Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2007, the Brooks concert is only the third major show at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the last 39 years. Prior to the Stones' show in '94, the last major act to perform at the stadium was the Eagles on Jan. 27, 1980.
The University Athletic Association operations staff has been working closely with Brooks and concert organizers for months to get ready for Saturday's big show, which includes a massive stage and a week of preparation to get the venue ready.
Notre Dame Stadium is slowly being transformed for the Garth Brooks concert on Saturday!
— WNDU (@WNDU) October 17, 2018
By 7 p.m., more than 85,000 people will fill the stadium for the sold-out show.
More info: https://t.co/HytYSobgWL pic.twitter.com/jjAtHvoH0v
As for Brooks, the show is a sellout with more than 75,000 tickets sold and will be the largest concert crowd in the 89-year history of the stadium.
Brooks made history six months ago at Notre Dame Stadium when he became the first performer to hold a concert at the storied home of the Fighting Irish. More than 84,000 fans turned out for the concert, which was televised a few weeks later on CBS.
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