Based on just released year end national rankings, DPAC is once again ranked as one of the top theaters in the country based on ticket revenues and attendance figures tracked by the largest three U.S. publications that cover live entertainment and live entertainment venues.

 

For over 15 years, DPAC has been recognized annually as one of the best theaters in America, with sales and attendance numbers that rival larger theaters in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Atlanta.  Since 2010, DPAC has ranked among the top five theaters in the U.S. 11 times and the top ten theaters in the U.S. 15 times.  These latest 2024 year-end rankings place DPAC alongside the nation’s most iconic theaters, including Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.  

 

Operated under the direction of Nederlander and Professional Facilities Management (PFM), DPAC celebrated 16 years of presenting one-of-a-kind live entertainment experiences in 2024.  Developed and owned by the City of Durham, DPAC has welcomed over six and a half million guests to over 3,000 performances since opening in 2008.

 

“2024 was a year to remember at DPAC,” said Bob Klaus, General Manager of DPAC.  “We loved welcoming every one of the 500,000 guests to the 200+ performances with the world’s greatest comedians, superstar concerts, special events and biggest hit Broadway shows.  Our thanks to both fans and performers for being part of the unique and shared special experiences that help make DPAC one of the very best theaters in the country.”

 

Latest National Rankings Place DPAC Among the Top Theaters in America

 

In VenuesNow annual rankings published November 22^nd, DPAC was recognized as the #2 ranked theater in the U.S. (based on attendance). 

 

Billboard Magazine, issued December 16^th, ranked DPAC #3 in the U.S. (based on ticket revenues).

 

And a third publication Pollstar Magazine, who released their annual rankings on December 16^th, categorizes theaters in two separate charts, one for attendance and a second for ticket revenues.  For 2024, Pollstar placed DPAC #4 in attendance and #6 in ticket revenues in its annual year-end rankings for U.S. theaters.

 

Top National Rankings

VenuesNow – DPAC #2 in America – Based on Attendance

In VenuesNow’s latest ranking, DPAC places among some of the most prestigious venues in the country including the iconic Fox Theatre in Atlanta and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
 

VenuesNow is an entertainment business trade publication and website covering live entertainment venues across the globe, serving managers, owners, operators and bookers of arenas, amphitheaters, stadiums, performing arts centers, clubs, theaters, and convention centers.

U.S. Ranking	Venue / City	Capacity
1.	Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA	4,600
2.	DPAC Durham, NC	2,704
3.	Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN	2,300
4.	Paramount Theatre Seattle, WA	2,800
5.	Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL	3,600

VenuesNow

2024 Top Stops - 2,001 to 5,000 (capacity)

November 16, 2023, to November 13, 2024

Ranked by Attendance

Billboard Magazine - DPAC #3 in America – Based on Ticket Revenue

 

In another just released publication, Billboard Magazine ranked DPAC as the third most successful venue in the U.S. based on ticket revenues.

 

Billboard is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by the Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group, a division of MRC Media & Info.  The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music and live events industry.

 

U.S Ranking	Venue / City	Capacity
1.	Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA	4,600
1.	Beacon Theatre New York, NY	2,800
3.	DPAC Durham, NC	2,704
4.	Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL	3,600
5.	Resorts World Theatre Las Vegas, NV	5,000

 

Billboard Boxscore

2024 Top Venues – 2,501 – 5,000 Capacity

October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024

Ranked by Ticket Revenue

 

Pollstar - DPAC #4 in America – Based on Attendance

 

Pollstar Magazine, known as the Voice of Live Entertainment for over 40 years, has ranked DPAC #4 in reported attendance and #6 in reported ticket revenues among U.S. theatres.

 

Pollstar provides the most up-to-date, relevant, and useful data available for the global concert and live events industry, delivering an unmatched archive of live entertainment data, a focus on editorial excellence, and the most powerful metrics of entertainment industry success available anywhere.

 

U.S. Ranking	Venue / City	Capacity
1.	Radio City Music Hall New York, NY	6,000
2.	Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA	4,600
3.	Paramount Theatre Seattle, WA	2,800
4.	DPAC Durham, NC	2,704
5.	Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN	2,300

 

Pollstar

2024 Worldwide Ticket Sales - Top 200 Theatres

November 16, 2023, to November 13, 2024

Ranked by Attendance

 

DPAC’s Top Events of 2024

 

Top Five Broadway Shows:

1. Disney’s The Lion King (32 performances) – May 15 – June 9, 2024
2. & Juliet (8 performances) – October 1 – 6, 2024
3. Mrs. Doubtfire (8 performances) – March 19 – 24, 2024
4. Mamma Mia! (8 performances) – July 30 – August 4, 2024
5. Peter Pan (8 performances) – February 27 – March 3, 2024

Top Ten Concerts:

1. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert (3 performances) – January 26 – 27, 2024
2. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (2 performances) – September 20-21, 2024
3. Mitski – February 2-3, 2024 (2 performances)
4. Joe Bonamassa – February 25, 2024
5. Sigur Rós – September 28, 2024
6. Charlie Wilson – October 18, 2024
7. Tedeschi Trucks Band – March 14, 2024
8. Anthony Hamilton – August 9, 2024
9. Morrissey – November 9, 2024
10. Bonnie Raitt – November 19, 2024

Top Ten Comedy Shows:

1. Dave Chappelle - October 21, 2024
2. Impractical Jokers (2 performances) – August 24, 2024
3. Ellen DeGeneres – August 7, 2024
4. Fortune Feimster (2 Performances) – March 16, 2024
5. Iliza Shlesinger – October 19, 2024
6. Ron White – March 7, 2024
7. Jeff Arcuri – November 1, 2024
8. Ben Schwartz – January 19, 2024
9. Lewis Black – October 25, 2024
10. Matteo Lane – October 11, 2024

Top Five Special Events:

1. ‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil (17 Performances) – December 5 – 15, 2024
2. Bluey’s Big Play (5 Performances) – April 26 – 28, 2024
3. Dancing with the Stars Live (2 Performances) – February 17, 2024
4. Hillary Clinton – October 17, 2024
5. Neil deGrasse Tyson – March 12, 2024

Looking Ahead: Great Shows, Good Times in 2025

 

In 2025, DPAC will continue to bring the best of live entertainment to the Triangle with a variety of events, including the biggest Broadway shows direct from New York, superstar concerts, world-class comedians, and special events of all kinds. 

 

DPAC’s signature series, Broadway at DPAC, remains one of the largest one-week subscription series in the country, and throughout 2025, the best of Broadway will be showcased with the premieres of brand-new productions, including Back to the Future: The Musical, Some Like It Hot, and The Wiz. 

 

The lineup of the biggest and best shows continues with a record-breaking five consecutive performances from comedy superstar, Jim Gaffigan, the return of fan-favorites such as Chicago and Dancing with the Stars Live, and the DPAC debuts of great artists like Marcus King Band and Stardew Valley.

 

For a full list of upcoming events, please visit www.DPACnc.com. 

 

Link to Venue Photos: https://bit.ly/VenuePhotos24

Link to Top Broadway B-Roll:  https://bit.ly/TopBroadway24

Link to Top Concerts Photos: https://bit.ly/TopConcerts24

Link to Top Comedy/Special Events Photos: https://bit.ly/TopComedyandSpecialEvents24

 

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