Metallica just broke the record for the largest ticketed concert ever in Syracuse, N.Y. Over 47,500 fans gathered at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday night for a concert by the metal band, as confirmed by Metallica and Syracuse University on Sunday. This turnout surpasses the previous record of 47,319 held by The Who in 1982 at the former Carrier Dome.

“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 frontman James Hetfield wrote on social media.

How Metallica Fit More People in Than Ever Before

This was made possible by Metallica’s unique stage configuration, which maximized space within the venue and allowed for increased ticket sales. Typically, concerts at the Dome are arranged at one end of the stadium, resulting in many seats being unavailable behind the setup. In contrast, Metallica utilized a circular stage placed at the 50-yard line, enabling fans to occupy seats around the stadium. An additional 7,500 fans stood on the floor around the stage and in the “Snake Pit,” contributing to total attendance surpassing SU’s official football capacity of 42,774.

Forty years ago, The Who filled the Dome during what the British rock band announced as their farewell tour. It wasn’t, but many believed it to be at the time, which led to incredibly high interest. That faux farewell tour attracted the largest indoor rock audience in the Northeast, as reported by The Post-Standard archives. Tickets were priced at $15 (approximately $51 today), and the concert generated around $700,000 (equivalent to about $2.4 million when adjusted for inflation in 2025).

Comparatively, 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, which doesn’t even account for all of the merchandise, such as Syracuse-exclusive shirts and posters.

Syracuse Shows

In Syracuse’s history, only 37 concerts have attracted audiences of 35,000 or more (refer to the list below). While the Dome infrequently hosts music events, it drew crowds exceeding 40,000 for performances by The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Genesis, and The Police during the 1980s and ’90s.

Following the Dome and fairgrounds, the next largest venue in town is the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview. This 10-year-old site, formerly known as the Lakeview Amphitheater and St. Joe’s Amp, has a seating capacity of 17,500. In comparison, the Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial accommodates 7,000, while the Landmark Theatre seats 2,908.

Why People Flocked to Metallica in 2025

The demand for Metallica was very high, and understandably so. This marked the band’s first concert in Syracuse since they performed at Lollapalooza during the New York State Fair in 1996. Additionally, it was their first-ever show in the Dome, as they had previously played in smaller venues like the War Memorial alongside Ozzy Osbourne in 1986.

Metallica 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.”

“You make us feel so good and so proud,” Hetfield told the audience. “We are grateful for what we get to do.”