Garcia said “We were great for seconds on end.” I was lucky to see Jerry play for about 1,000,000 seconds exactly. Thanks for your 1,000,000 views here . Dave Davis wrote this blog for 500 posts and 5 years from 2015 to 2019. Contact me at twitter @gratefulseconds

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Grateful Dead Venue Size, 1976-1979




If I had my way, I would tear that building down.

After the Grateful Dead torn down that wall, and went fishin', they started back again and started small.  The band first 25 shows in the northeast and in San Francisco, averaged 3,061 seats available per night for a total of 76,534 available tickets to sell.   The summer and fall started back in large outdoor venues (Hartford, Jersey City, Oakland) as well as a number of large arenas.  They finished the year with an average venue capacity of 9,487.

In the last piece, I took a look at the growth in average venue size 1984-1987 which shows the spike up occuring around the time of the In the Dark LP and the Touch of Grey top-10 single.

The end of the 1970's saw the Grateful Dead very consistent in the places where they would play, and the sizes of the venues.  Remember that the 1977 shows include Englishtown, and the 1978 shows include the first Giant's Stadium show.  1978 also saw the return to a number of smaller venues like the Boston Music Hall, the January California tour, Chicago's Uptown and Atlanta's Fox.

Average Venue Size       Average Tickets Sold

1976     9,487                         8,538
1977   10,703                         9,287
1978     8,802                         7,497
1979   10,353                         9,513  
           

More to come on these numbers, as my research continues to sharpen....


All shows 1976-1979 and Venue Size


Paramount Theater - June 3, 1976              2,776
Paramount Theater - June 4, 1976              2,776
Boston Music Hall - June 9, 1976              3,600
Boston Music Hall - June 10, 1976              3,600
Boston Music Hall - June 11, 1976              3,600
Boston Music Hall - June 12, 1976              3,600
Beacon Theatre - June 14, 1976              2,894
Beacon Theatre - June 15, 1976              2,894
Capitol Theatre - June 17, 1976              3,200
Capitol Theatre - June 18, 1976              3,200
Capitol Theatre - June 19, 1976              3,200
Tower Theatre - June 21, 1976              3,119
Tower Theatre - June 22, 1976              3,119
Tower Theatre - June 23, 1976              3,119
Tower Theatre - June 24, 1976              3,119
Auditorium Theater - June 26, 1976              3,875
Auditorium Theater - June 27, 1976              3,875
Auditorium Theater - June 28, 1976              3,875
Auditorium Theater - June 29, 1976              3,875
Orpheum Theatre - July 12, 1976              2,203
Orpheum Theatre - July 13, 1976              2,203
Orpheum Theatre - July 14, 1976              2,203
Orpheum Theatre - July 16, 1976              2,203
Orpheum Theatre - July 17, 1976              2,203
Orpheum Theatre - July 18, 1976              2,203
Colt Park - August 2, 1976            20,000
Roosevelt Stadium - August 4, 1976            40,000
Cameron Indoor Stadium - September 23, 1976              3,000
College Of William and Mary - September 24, 1976              8,600
Capital Centre - September 25, 1976            19,000
Community War Memorial - September 27, 1976            13,000
Onondaga County War Memorial - September 28, 1976              8,000
St. John Arena - September 30, 1976              3,000
Market Square Arena - October 1, 1976            16,000
River Front Coliseum - October 2, 1976            16,250
Cobo Arena - October 3, 1976            12,000
Oakland Coliseum Stadium - October 9, 1976            63,132
Oakland Coliseum Stadium - October 10, 1976            63,132
Shrine Auditorium - October 14, 1976              6,300
Shrine Auditorium - October 15, 1976              6,300
Cow Palace - December 31, 1976            14,706
Swing Auditorium - February 26, 1977            10,000
Robertson Gym - February 27, 1977              5,000
Winterland Arena - March 18, 1977              5,400
Winterland Arena - March 19, 1977              5,400
Winterland Arena - March 20, 1977              5,400
The Spectrum - April 22, 1977            18,369
Springfield Civic Center Arena - April 23, 1977              8,000
Capitol Theatre - April 25, 1977              3,200
Capitol Theatre - April 26, 1977              3,200
Capitol Theatre - April 27, 1977              3,200
The Palladium - April 29, 1977              2,509
The Palladium - April 30, 1977              2,509
The Palladium - May 1, 1977              2,509
The Palladium - May 3, 1977              2,509
The Palladium - May 4, 1977              2,509
Veterans Memorial Coliseum - May 5, 1977            11,171
Boston Garden - May 7, 1977            17,565
Barton Hall - May 8, 1977              4,800
War Memorial Auditorium - May 9, 1977            18,200
St. Paul Civic Center Arena - May 11, 1977            16,000
Auditorium Theater - May 12, 1977              3,875
Auditorium Theater - May 13, 1977              3,875
St. Louis Arena - May 15, 1977            10,000
Memorial Coliseum - May 17, 1977            10,000
Fox Theatre - May 18, 1977              4,678
Fox Theatre - May 19, 1977              4,678
Lakeland Civic Center Arena - May 21, 1977            10,000
Sportatorium - May 22, 1977            15,532
The Mosque - May 25, 1977            10,000
Baltimore Civic Center - May 26, 1977            14,000
Hartford Civic Center - May 28, 1977            16,294
The Forum - June 4, 1977            17,505
Winterland Arena - June 7, 1977              5,400
Winterland Arena - June 8, 1977              5,400
Winterland Arena - June 9, 1977              5,400
Raceway Park - September 3, 1977          150,000
Paramount Northwest Theatre - September 28, 1977              3,000
Paramount Northwest Theatre - September 29, 1977              3,000
Paramount Theater - October 1, 1977              2,776
Paramount Theater - October 2, 1977              2,776
Activity Center - October 6, 1977              6,000
University of New Mexico - October 7, 1977              6,000
McNichols Sports Arena - October 9, 1977            18,550
Lloyd Noble Center - October 11, 1977              6,000
Manor Downs - October 12, 1977            45,000
Hofheinz Pavilion - October 14, 1977              8,479
Moody Coliseum - October 15, 1977              6,000
Assembly Center - October 16, 1977              6,000
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall - October 28, 1977              6,000
Evans Field House - October 29, 1977              6,000
Assembly Hall - October 30, 1977            17,000
Cobo Arena - November 1, 1977            12,000
Field House - November 2, 1977              6,000
Cotterell Gym - November 4, 1977              6,000
Community War Memorial - November 5, 1977            13,000
Broome County Arena - November 6, 1977              6,925
Winterland Arena - December 27, 1977              5,400
Winterland Arena - December 29, 1977              5,400
Winterland Arena - December 30, 1977              5,400
Winterland Arena - December 31, 1977              5,400
Swing Auditorium - January 6, 1978            10,000
Golden Hall - January 7, 1978              3,200
Golden Hall - January 8, 1978              3,200
Shrine Auditorium - January 10, 1978              6,300
Shrine Auditorium - January 11, 1978              6,300
Arlington Theater - January 13, 1978              6,000
Bakersfield Memorial Auditorium - January 14, 1978              3,041
Selland Arena - January 15, 1978              6,582
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium - January 17, 1978              3,867
Stockton Civic Auditorium - January 18, 1978              6,000
McArthur Court - January 22, 1978              8,000
Uptown Theatre - January 30, 1978              4,381
Uptown Theatre - January 31, 1978              4,381
Uptown Theatre - February 1, 1978              4,381
Dane County Coliseum - February 3, 1978            10,231
Milwaukee Auditorium - February 4, 1978              6,000
Uni-Dome - February 5, 1978              6,000
Curtis Hixon Convention Hall - April 6, 1978              7,000
Sportatorium - April 7, 1978            15,532
Veteran's Memorial Coliseum - April 8, 1978              6,000
Fox Theatre - April 10, 1978              4,678
Fox Theatre - April 11, 1978              4,678
Cameron Indoor Stadium - April 12, 1978              6,000
Cassell Coliseum - April 14, 1978              6,000
College Of William and Mary - April 15, 1978              8,600
Huntington Civic Center - April 16, 1978              6,000
Pittsburgh Civic Arena - April 18, 1978            17,181
Veterans Memorial Hall - April 19, 1978              6,000
Rupp Arena - April 21, 1978            23,000
Nashville Municipal Auditorium - April 22, 1978              6,000
Horton Field House - April 24, 1978              6,000
Thompson Arena - May 5, 1978              6,000
Patrick Gym - May 6, 1978              6,000
Field House - May 7, 1978              8,200
Onondaga County War Memorial - May 9, 1978              8,000
Veterans Memorial Coliseum - May 10, 1978            11,171
Springfield Civic Center Arena - May 11, 1978              8,000
The Spectrum - May 13, 1978            18,369
Providence Civic Center - May 14, 1978            12,400
Uptown Theatre - May 16, 1978              4,381
Uptown Theatre - May 17, 1978              4,381
Campus Stadium - June 4, 1978              6,000
Autzen Stadium - June 25, 1978            54,000
Arrowhead Stadium - July 1, 1978            40,000
St. Paul Civic Center Arena - July 3, 1978            16,000
Omaha Civic Auditorium - July 5, 1978            12,000
Red Rocks Amphitheatre - July 7, 1978              9,525
Red Rocks Amphitheatre - July 8, 1978              9,525
Red Rocks Amphitheatre - August 30, 1978              9,525
Red Rocks Amphitheatre - August 31, 1978              9,525
Giants Stadium - September 2, 1978            80,242
Gizah Sound and Light Theater - September 14, 1978              1,000
Gizah Sound and Light Theater - September 15, 1978              1,000
Gizah Sound and Light Theater - September 16, 1978              1,000
Winterland Arena - October 17, 1978              5,400
Winterland Arena - October 18, 1978              5,400
Winterland Arena - October 20, 1978              5,400
Winterland Arena - October 21, 1978              5,400
Winterland Arena - October 22, 1978              5,400
NBC Studios - November 11, 1978                  200
Boston Music Hall - November 13, 1978              3,600
Boston Music Hall - November 14, 1978              3,600
Uptown Theatre - November 16, 1978              4,381
Uptown Theatre - November 17, 1978              4,381
Loyola College - November 17, 1978                  100
Uptown Theatre - November 18, 1978              4,381
Cleveland Music Hall - November 20, 1978              3,000
Community War Memorial - November 21, 1978            13,000
Capital Centre - November 23, 1978            19,000
Capitol Theatre - November 24, 1978              3,200
Jai-Alai Fronton - December 12, 1978              6,500
Curtis Hixon Convention Hall - December 13, 1978              7,000
Boutwell Auditorium - December 15, 1978              4,000
Nashville Municipal Auditorium - December 16, 1978              4,000
Fox Theatre - December 17, 1978              4,678
Memorial Coliseum - December 19, 1978              4,000
The Summit - December 21, 1978            17,000
Dallas Convention Center Arena - December 22, 1978              9,816
Golden Hall - December 27, 1978              3,200
Golden Hall - December 28, 1978              3,200
Pauley Pavilion - December 30, 1978            10,337
Winterland Arena - December 31, 1978              5,400
The Spectrum - January 5, 1979            18,369
Madison Square Garden - January 7, 1979            18,200
Madison Square Garden - January 8, 1979            18,200
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - January 10, 1979            17,686
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - January 11, 1979            17,686
The Spectrum - January 12, 1979            18,369
Utica Memorial Auditorium - January 14, 1979              5,700
Springfield Civic Center Arena - January 15, 1979              8,000
Veterans Memorial Coliseum - January 17, 1979            11,171
Providence Civic Center - January 18, 1979            12,400
Shea's Buffalo Theatre - January 20, 1979              3,183
Masonic Temple - January 21, 1979              4,000
Market Square Arena - February 3, 1979            16,000
Dane County Coliseum - February 4, 1979            10,231
Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion - February 6, 1979              4,000
SIU Arena - February 7, 1979              4,000
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall - February 9, 1979              4,000
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall - February 10, 1979              4,000
Kiel Auditorium - February 11, 1979              9,300
Oakland Coliseum Arena - February 17, 1979            19,596
Spartan Stadium - April 22, 1979            22,000
Charlotte Coliseum - May 3, 1979              9,605
Hampton Coliseum - May 4, 1979              9,777
Baltimore Civic Center - May 5, 1979            14,000
Kirby Fieldhouse - May 7, 1979              4,000
Recreation Hall - May 8, 1979              4,000
Broome County Arena - May 9, 1979              6,925
Billerica Forum - May 11, 1979              4,000
Alumni Stadium - May 12, 1979            10,000
Cumberland County Civic Center - May 13, 1979              6,733
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium - June 28, 1979              3,867
Portland International Raceway - June 30, 1979            20,000
Seattle Center Arena - July 1, 1979            12,000
Oakland Auditorium Arena - August 4, 1979              8,373
Oakland Auditorium Arena - August 5, 1979              8,373
Red Rocks Amphitheatre - August 12, 1979              9,525
McNichols Sports Arena - August 13, 1979            18,550
McNichols Sports Arena - August 14, 1979            18,550
Glens Falls Civic Center - August 31, 1979              4,774
Holleder Memorial Stadium - September 1, 1979            20,000
Augusta Civic Center - September 2, 1979              6,777
Madison Square Garden - September 4, 1979            18,200
Madison Square Garden - September 5, 1979            18,200
Madison Square Garden - September 6, 1979            18,200
Springfield Civic Center Arena - October 24, 1979              8,000
Veterans Memorial Coliseum - October 25, 1979            11,171
Cape Cod Coliseum - October 27, 1979              5,000
Cape Cod Coliseum - October 28, 1979              5,000
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - October 31, 1979            17,686
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - November 1, 1979            17,686
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - November 2, 1979            17,686
Providence Civic Center - November 4, 1979            12,400
The Spectrum - November 5, 1979            18,369
The Spectrum - November 6, 1979            18,369
Capital Centre - November 8, 1979            19,000
War Memorial Auditorium - November 9, 1979            18,200
Crisler Arena - November 10, 1979            13,751
Golden Hall - November 23, 1979              3,200
Golden Hall - November 24, 1979              3,200
Pauley Pavilion - November 25, 1979            10,337
Cleveland Public Hall - November 29, 1979            10,000
Stanley Theatre - November 30, 1979              2,963
Stanley Theatre - December 1, 1979              2,963
Uptown Theatre - December 3, 1979              4,381
Uptown Theatre - December 4, 1979              4,381
Uptown Theatre - December 5, 1979              4,381
Indiana Convention Center - December 7, 1979              5,000
Kiel Auditorium - December 9, 1979              9,300
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall - December 10, 1979              5,000
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall - December 11, 1979              5,000
Oakland Auditorium Arena - December 26, 1979              8,373
Oakland Auditorium Arena - December 27, 1979              8,373
Oakland Auditorium Arena - December 28, 1979              8,373
Oakland Auditorium Arena - December 30, 1979              8,373
Oakland Auditorium Arena - December 31, 1979              8,373

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