George Strait breaks record for largest ticketed concert in US with nearly 111K in attendance
Everything is bigger in Texas. Just ask George Strait.
The country music icon made history with his concert at Kyle Field in College Station on Saturday night, playing to a record-breaking 110,905 fans. The show set the U.S. record for a ticketed concert, previously held by The Grateful Dead with its 1997 concert at Raceway Park in New Jersey.
"We got some Aggies out there? Oh yeah!" Strait said at the concert, per Chron, referencing the Texas A&M University team. "I’m ashamed to say this, but this is my first time to ever be in Kyle Field. Damn! Just invite me back!"
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The concert also broke the record for the most attended single event at Kyle Field, even beating the Aggies football team. The record for a football game was set on Oct. 11, 2014, with 110,663 fans in attendance for a Texas A&M 35-20 loss to SEC West rival Ole Miss. Strait also broke his own Texas record on June 7, 2014, when he performed for 104,793 at Arlington's AT&T Stadium.
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Strait's current tour has four remaining dates. The next concert is set for June 29 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
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Among the attendees at Saturday's concert were new Texas A&M football coach Mike Elko and Sen. Ted Cruz. Elko shared a photo of his seats from the venue when asked whether he was taking in a show of another kind: Texas A&M baseball's College World Series opener vs. Florida in Omaha, Nebraska. The game was heavily delayed by weather, causing a conflict for the Aggies coach.
"Enjoying The King at Kyle Field," Elko wrote. "But I’ll be there supporting @AggieBaseball when we’re done."