 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
|
|||
The Greater Atlantic City Chamber would like to thank the following sponsors:
2008 Delivered Big Numbers for Historic Boardwalk Hall
For Atlantic City's premier entertainment showplace, it has been a phenomenal year. From grossing big in the box office to setting record concert attendance numbers, historic Boardwalk Hall has reason to toast to a sensational 2008.
According to year-end reports released by leading trade publications Billboard and Venues Today, Boardwalk Hall has once again clinched the top spot for box office grosses among mid-sized arenas in North America and in the world for 2008. As detailed in Billboard's Top 10 Venues listing, the 14,770 seat special events arena grossed $26 million and attracted 299,353 for 38 shows with eleven sellouts presented between Nov. 15, 2007 and Nov. 13, 2008. Billboard ranked the Hall first in the world above the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland who placed second and third, respectively. Venues Today named Boardwalk Hall number one in North America (second in the world) tallying a box office gross of $23.5 million for 38 shows, eleven of which were sellouts between Oct. 16, 2007 and Oct. 15, 2008. International competitors Brisbane (Australia) Entertainment Centre and the Vector Arena in New Zealand were listed first and third, respectively. Differences in gross numbers were due to separate reporting periods.
Several remarkable achievements in 2008 contributed to the successful year at the box office, notes building management. Boardwalk Hall hosted a record 20 concerts in 2008, the largest number of concerts in a single year since re-opening in 2001. Three sold out shows registered record attendance at the Hall since the renovation. Elton John attracted a crowd of 14,213 to his July performance. Jimmy Buffett logged 14,591 fans for his August date and second appearance at the Hall, and Celine Dion made her debut in September in front of a crowd of 14,590. A number of must-see tours made a stop at Boardwalk Hall in 2008 including 'tween magnet Hannah Montana, rock legend Van Halen, country's Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood, rap artist Lil' Wayne, and hip-hop superstars Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z. The unprecedented collaboration of Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z's Heart of the City Tour also marked the largest hip-hop event presented in Atlantic City history. Returning shows included the American Idols Live Tour, Dancing With The Stars The Tour, the 2008 Mummers 'Show of Shows', and holiday favorite Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
A diverse collection of international entertainment including the Filipino game show WoWoWee, a Russian Ice Show, The Greatest Hitmakers featuring Filipino stars, the Unforgettable Tour - a Bollywood variety show, along with a performance by Dutch conductor Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra rounded out concert entertainment at Boardwalk Hall.
Premium sporting events included three major boxing events – Pavlik vs. Hopkins, Pavlik. vs. Lockett, and co-feature Cotto vs. Gomez/Margarito vs. Cintron. The Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship recorded a near sellout crowd for its Philadelphia finale with Temple ousting archrival St. Joe's during a close final game. All of these events were televised nationally. Other multiple day sporting events such as the New Jersey State High Wrestling Championships and Len Sammons Indoor Auto Racing continue to be well attended annual events at Boardwalk Hall.
"2008 was an outstanding year for Boardwalk Hall," said Greg Tesone, General Manager of Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center/SMG. "We hosted a record number of concerts, three of which registered our largest crowds to date, and have successfully introduced Boardwalk Hall to a whole new segment of the Atlantic City market by diversifying our bookings. We continue to be the east coast's premier location for boxing and premium sporting events, and we will continue to build on SMG's positive rapport with leading promoters to attract new business and keep repeat bookings lucrative. Thank you to the promoters, artists, patrons, and business partners that have helped us to achieve success."
"We are proud of Boardwalk Hall’s popularity and the important role it plays in attracting top names in the entertainment industry to Atlantic City," said Jeff Vasser, president of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. "We anticipate that, in 2009 and beyond, Boardwalk Hall will continue to enhance the city’s reputation as an entertainment destination on the East Coast."
 |
 |