George Strait Breaks U.S. Concert Attendance Record in Texas, Unseating the Grateful Dead

June 17, 2024
George Strait Breaks U.S. Concert Attendance Record in Texas, Unseating the Grateful Dead

George Strait 2014 2” by Bede735 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

On Saturday, June 15, George Strait made history with his performance at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. For his first time playing the stadium, the country star and Lone Star State native broke the all-time U.S. record for attendance at a ticketed concert, with a staggering 110,905 fans pulling up for the show. Strait’s performance edged out above the Grateful Dead’s long-held record, set when the band welcomed 107,019 fans to a 1977 show at Englishtown, N.J.’s Raceway Park.

Strait’s new record adds another feather to the 10 gallon of the highly awarded country troubadour, who currently holds the records for most #1 singles of any artist across genres and the most gold, platinum and #1 albums in the history of country. Strait is also the only artist to chart a top 10 hit every year for thirty consecutive years. The 110,905 followers that came to support Strait also narrowly surpassed the stadium’s previous record occupancy, which occurred in 2014 when 110,633 Texas A&M fans rallied for a home game against Ole Miss. At the jaw-dropping sight of the crowd, the artist avowed that he’s gladly return, stating, “​​Damn! Just invite me back. I’ll come!”

Fortunately for Deadheads clinging to the memory, the true estimated occupancy of the band’s record-setting show was far in excess of the ticketholder tally; as many as 175,000 devotees may have been in attendance for the ‘77 show, dwarfing Strait’s total. 

Strait will continue his summer tour with a set at Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium on June 29; for this show and three further dates, the artist will be joined by Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town. For tickets and more information, visit georgestrait.com.