Syracuse’s biggest concerts of all time: How 47,500 Metallica fans set a new record – Syracuse.com
2025-04-21T13:31:00Z
Metallica performed at the JMA Wireless Dome for the first time on Saturday.
It’s official: Metallica just broke the record for the largest ticketed concert ever in Syracuse, N.Y.
More than 47,500 fans attended the metal band’s concert Saturday night at the JMA Wireless Dome, Metallica and Syracuse University confirmed Sunday. That’s bigger than the former Carrier Dome’s previous record of 47,319, set by The Who in 1982.
“Thank you, Syracuse!!! We had an amazing time kicking off this year’s #M72 Tour at JMA Wireless Dome, where you set a new all-time attendance record with over 47,500 of you welcoming us for our first show,” Metallica wrote on social media.
Most concerts at the Dome are set up on one end of the stadium, cutting off a large number of seats behind it. Metallica, on the other hand, rocked a circular stage at the 50-yard line so fans could fill seats around the entire stadium. Another 7,500 fans were standing on the floor around the stage and inside the “Snake Pit,” which is why total attendance exceeded SU’s current official capacity of 42,774 for football games.
Metallica’s setup was also physically gargantuan, using 79 trucks (nearly four times as much as Bruce Springsteen’s Dome concert last year) to construct the stage, video, sound, and lighting. Highlights included large curved screens to ensure fans in the stands could see the action, plus pyrotechnics while moving pieces allowed drummer Lars Ulrich to perform in multiple spots or for bassist Robert Trujillo to perform on top of the pit.
Metallica’s singer-guitarist James Hetfield and Drummer Lars Ulrich thrashed the hits as Metallica shattered attendance records Saturday, April 19, 2025 at JMA Wireless Dome. Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies started off the concert pumping blood into the metal heads in attendance. N. Scott Trimble | strimble@Syracuse.comN. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com
Four decades earlier, The Who sold out the Dome on what the British rock band claimed was its farewell tour. At the time, it was the biggest indoor rock audience ever in the Northeast, according to The Post-Standard archives. Ticket prices cost $15 (nearly $51 in today’s dollars) and the concert grossed about $700,000 (or $2.4 million adjusted for 2025 inflation).
Metallica’s Syracuse tickets ranged from $78 to more than $1,000 for the Snake Pit, likely totaling more than $7 million in total sales including VIP packages. Some fans may have paid even more through resellers, on top of all the merchandise, such as Syracuse-exclusive shirts and posters.
It’s not surprising demand was high for Metallica. It was the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group’s first Syracuse concert since playing Lollapalooza at the New York State Fair in 1996. It was also the band’s first time performing in the Dome, previously rocking smaller venues like the War Memorial with Ozzy Osbourne in 1986.
The band, also featuring singer-guitarist James Hetfield and guitarist Kirk Hammett, is one of the best-selling music acts of all time with more than 125 million albums sold worldwide. Saturday’s setlist included some of their biggest hits, like “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Enter Sandman,” “Nothing Else Matters” and “Master of Puppets.”
Metallica fans play with “M72” beach balls during the metal band’s concert Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. (Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com)Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com
Only one concert in Syracuse has ever had larger total attendance: Country star Lainey Wilson drew 53,200 fans to the New York State Fair’s Suburban Park stage in 2023. However, the “Heart Like a Truck” singer’s show was not ticketed; the concert was free with admission to the NYS Fair ($6 that year) and crowd size was estimated by Fair officials using a formula.
Such huge concerts are not common in the Salt City. Only 37 concerts in Syracuse history have had crowds of 35,000 or more (see list below). The Dome only sporadically features music events, but saw at least 40,000 people for The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Genesis and The Police in the 1980s and ’90s.
After the Dome and fairgrounds, the next biggest stage in town is the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview. The 10-year-old venue, previously known as the Lakeview Amphitheater and St. Joe’s Amp, has an official capacity of 17,500, while the Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial holds 7,000 and the Landmark Theatre has 2,908 seats.
Parking and traffic are always difficult for major Dome events, though city and Syracuse University officials have discussed changes amid the I-81 project. Some fans complained on social media about waiting hours for a shuttle to the Skytop parking lot on SU’s south campus Saturday night.
“After the concert ended we all stood in the cold for 2 hours because there were a total of 4 buses,” one Facebook comment said. “We didn’t get home til 5 am. Never ever will I return to Syracuse.”
Others got frustrated with the traffic and said they walked 45 minutes to their cars in 40-degree weather: “It was a huge disaster with shuttling!!”
Metallica also drew crowds elsewhere in the community in the days leading up to the concert, including the premiere of new documentary film “Metallica Saved My Life” at Regal Destiny USA, a pop-up shop at the Westcott Theater, and charity events.
Visit Syracuse told CNYCentral that Metallica’s concert generated up to $15 million for the local economy.
“You make us feel so good and so proud,” Hetfield told the audience. “We are grateful for what we get to do.”
53 1 / 53 Metallica storms Syracuse after a 30 year hiatus
The Biggest Syracuse Concerts of All Time (By Attendance)
1. Lainey Wilson — 53,200 at New York State Fair, Suburban Park, in 2023*
2. Metallica — 47,500 at JMA Wireless Dome in 2025
3. The Who — 47,319 at Carrier Dome in 1982
4. Megan Moroney — 47,000 at New York State Fair, Suburban Park, in 2024*
5 (tie). The Rolling Stones — 43,000 at Carrier Dome in 1981
5 (tie). Nelly — 43,000 at New York State Fair, Chevy Park, in 2022*
7 (tie). The Police — 42,000 at Carrier Dome in 1984
7 (tie). Flo Rida — 42,000 at New York State Fair, Suburban Park, in 2024*
9. Genesis — 40,681 at Carrier Dome in 1983
10. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie — 40,610 at New York State Fair, Chevy Court, in 2018*
11 (tie). Aretha Franklin — 40,000 at Syracuse Jazz Fest, Onondaga Community College, in 2007*
11 (tie). The Rolling Stones — 40,000 at Carrier Dome in 1989 (80,000 over two nights)
11 (tie). Bruce Springsteen — 40,000 at Carrier Dome in 1985 (80,000 over two nights)
11 (tie). Billy Joel — 40,000 at Carrier Dome in 1990 (80,000 over two nights)
11 (tie). Pink Floyd — 40,000 at Carrier Dome in 1994
16. Ludacris — 39,400 at New York State Fair, Suburban Park, in 2023*
17 (tie). Pink Floyd — 39,000 at Carrier Dome in 1987
17 (tie). U2 — 39,000 at Carrier Dome in 1987
17 (tie). Eric Clapton — 39,000 at Carrier Dome in 1990
17 (tie). Elton John — 39,000 at Carrier Dome in 1992
17 (tie). Billy Joel & Elton John — 39,000 at Carrier Dome in 2001
17 (tie). Rick Ross — 39,000 at New York State Fair, Suburban Park, in 2024*
17 (tie). City Girls — 39,000 at New York State Fair, Chevy Park, in 2022*
24. Billy Joel — 38,500 at Carrier Dome in 2006
25 (tie). New Kids on the Block — 38,000 at Carrier Dome in 1990
25 (tie). Foreigner — 38,000 at New York State Fair, Chevy Park, in 2022*
25 (tie). Elton John — 38,000 at JMA Wireless Dome in 2022
28. Billy Joel — 37,000 at Carrier Dome in 2015
29. Steve Miller Band — 36,900 at New York State Fair, Chevy Court, in 2015*
30. AJR — 36,397 at New York State Fair, Chevy Park, in 2021*
31. Luke Bryan — 36,000 at Carrier Dome in 2016
32 (tie). Paul McCartney — 35,000 at JMA Wireless Dome in 2022
32 (tie). Paul McCartney — 35,000 at Carrier Dome in 2017
32 (tie). Red Hot Chili Peppers — 35,000 at JMA Wireless Dome in 2023
32 (tie). Pink —35,000 at JMA Wireless Dome in 2024
32 (tie). Bruno Mars — 35,000 at New York State Fair, Chevy Court, in 2011*
32 (tie). Ray Charles — 35,000 at Syracuse Jazz Fest, Clinton Square, in 2000*
Note: All numbers according to official venue tallies and estimates, or The Post-Standard archives. The NYS Fair’s Chevy Park was renamed Suburban Park in 2023. Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome was renamed the JMA Wireless Dome in 2022.
*Concerts with an asterisk are free; performances at New York State Fair are free with admission to NYS Fair.
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