Sprint Center Kept Busy In 2012

By Brenna Hawley

Sprint Center was America’s sixth-busiest arena in 2012, according to Pollstar magazine’s year-end report.

It landed 22nd worldwide, selling 420,430 tickets to events between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012.

Shani Tate, vice president of marketing, communications and ticket sales for the Sprint Center, said in an interview that being No. 6 in the nation when the market was ranked 34th in size made Sprint Center employees proud.

“It really says that Kansas City fans are knowledgeable and passionate,” she said.

More than 50 percent of the top tours in North America came through Kansas City last year, Tate said. The center’s 2012 calendar included a wide variety of shows, including Bruce Springsteen, Justin Bieber, Cirque du Soleil and the Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament.

“Not having an anchor tenant actually works to our benefit in this situation,” Tate said. “We have more open dates and more flexibility in booking.”

That flexibility has meant some big-name acts for 2013. The Black Keys and Flaming Lips will open their tour in Kansas City, and Kid Rock will rehearse in Kansas City before launching his tour, Tate said.

Arenas in Los Angeles, the Chicago area, Dallas, New York and San Jose, Calif., were the only ones that sold more tickets in the United States. An arena in London sold the most tickets, with 1.58 million.

In 2010, Sprint Center ranked as the second-busiest U.S. arena and No. 7 worldwide.