While 2020 was a unique year for venues across the country, DPAC continues to be ranked among the top-ten theaters in America by three leading national publications that cover live entertainment events and venues. These rankings were based on the 54 events DPAC held this past January through March, which welcomed almost 120,000 guests in just two-and-a-half months of operation.
“Although events are currently suspended, DPAC staff are working daily to plan and prepare for a safe reopening in 2021, when the DPAC stage will once again shine. In their recently released year-end published attendance and sales rankings, Pollstar, Billboard, and Venues Now all placed DPAC among the top U.S. venues of its size and type. Among U.S. theaters, DPAC was ranked 4th in Venues Now, 6th in Pollstar, and 7th in Billboard.”
Venues Now Top U.S. Theatre Venues
Venue / City | Capacity | Venue / City | Capacity | ||
1. | Dreyfoos Hall – West Palm Beach, FL | 2,195 | 5. | Fox Theatre – Atlanta, GA | 4,600 |
2. | Fox Theatre – Detroit, MI | 4,800 | 6. | Paramount Theatre – Seattle, WA | 2,800 |
3. | Chicago Theater – Chicago, IL | 3,600 | 7. | Beacon Theatre – New York, NY | 2,825 |
4. | DPAC – Durham, NC | 2,704 | 8. | Adrienne Arsht Center – Miami, FL | 2,400 |
Pollstar Top U.S. Theatre Venues
Venue / City | Capacity | Venue / City | Capacity | ||
1. | Radio City Music Hall – New York, NY | 5,900 | 5. | Chicago Theater – Chicago, IL | 3,600 |
2. | Hulu Theater/Madison Square Garden – New York, NY | 5,600 | 6. | DPAC – Durham, NC | 2,704 |
3. | Dreyfoos Hall – West Palm Beach, FL | 2,195 | 7. | Fox Theatre – Atlanta, GA | 4,600 |
4. | Fox Theatre – Detroit, MI | 4,800 | 8. | Paramount Theatre – Seattle, WA | 2,800 |
Billboard Top U.S. Theatre Venues
Venue / City | Capacity | Venue / City | Capacity | ||
1. | The Colosseum at Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV |
4,000 | 5. | Devos Performance Hall –
Grand Rapids, MI |
2,446 |
2. | Fox Theatre – Atlanta, GA | 4,600 | 6. | Altria Theater – Richmond, VA | 3,565 |
3. | Chicago Theater – Chicago, IL | 3,600 | 7. | DPAC – Durham, NC | 2,704 |
4. | Beacon Theatre – New York, NY | 2,825 | 8. | Broward Center, Au-Rene Theater – Fort Lauderdale, FL | 2,660 |
“Broadway musicals are annually featured among DPAC’s list of best-selling events, and this trend continued in 2020. Each season, DPAC’s signature series, Truist Broadway at DPAC, presents the biggest hit Broadway tours from New York, London, and around the world. The top best-selling Broadway show of 2020 was Mean Girls, based on the popular movie written by Tiny Fey. Come From Away, DPAC’s highest-rated Broadway show ever, followed. Beloved classics RENT and Les Misérables, along with Broadway’s ultimate disco dance party, SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical, completed the top five Broadway shows of the year.”
Top 5 Broadway Shows – 2020:
- Mean Girls (8 performances)
- Come From Away (8 performances)
- RENT (8 performances)
- Les Misérables (3 performances)
- SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical (8 performances)
Along with hit Broadway shows, DPAC also offers a wealth of concerts, comedy, and special events each year.
Top 5 Concerts – 2020:
- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
- Tony Bennett
- Bob Weir and Wolf Bros
- The Simon and Garfunkel Story
- Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
Top 3 Comedy Shows – 2020:
- Sebastian Maniscalco (4 shows)
- Jo Koy
- Ilana Glazer
In addition to presenting the world’s top Broadway shows and talented concert artists, DPAC also hosts some of the biggest names in comedy and a unique lineup of special events. Billboard’s 2018 Comedian of the Year, Sebastian Maniscalco, made DPAC history as the first comedian to perform 4 shows in a row in March 2020, leading the list of top comedy shows. For DPAC’s special events, Neil deGrasse Tyson hosted the year’s bestselling performance, followed by the national tours of Dancing With The Stars Live! and Blippi Live!
Top 5 Special Events – 2020:
- Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Dancing With The Stars Live!
- Blippi Live!
- Randy Rainbow Live!
- Bull City Food and Beer Experience
“Although 2020 was a brief season, it offered a snapshot of all of the exciting and diverse offerings that DPAC provides for our community,” said Brad Saks, DPAC’s Director of Programming for Concerts, Comedy, and Special Events. “This year, DPAC hosted its first comedian to perform four shows in one sitting, Sebastian Maniscalco, and we celebrated the performances of music across generations – from Tony Bennett to Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. We look forward to picking up where we left off and again bring the world’s biggest superstars to the stage at DPAC.”
For more information please go to www.DPACnc.com.