Imagine Dragons are one of the most popular rock bands in the world, known for hits like “Radioactive,” “Believer,” and “Thunder.” The Las Vegas band has won multiple awards, including a Grammy, and has toured extensively since forming in 2008. But with their widespread popularity, do Imagine Dragons concerts actually sell out?
Imagine Dragons’ Popularity and Album Sales
Imagine Dragons have enjoyed immense commercial success, especially with their first two albums. Their 2012 debut Night Visions reached #2 on the Billboard 200 chart and has sold over 4 million copies worldwide. The album featured the smash hit “Radioactive,” which won a Grammy for Best Rock Performance and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remains the band’s most streamed and downloaded song.[1] Their 2015 follow-up Smoke + Mirrors debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 200,000 copies in its first week.[2] It included singles like “I Bet My Life” and “Shots.”
The band’s subsequent albums Evolve (2017) and Origins (2018) continued their streak of top 10 debuts. Evolve was particularly successful, driven by the #1 Alternative hit “Believer” and pop crossover “Thunder.” The album has been certified double platinum with over 2 million sales.[3] Origins contained singles like “Natural” and “Bad Liar” and gave Imagine Dragons their fourth consecutive top 10 album debut.
Based on consistent commercial performance and chart success, it’s clear Imagine Dragons have built up a massive mainstream following, especially in the rock and pop genres. This level of popularity indicates high demand when they go on tour.
Imagine Dragons’ Concert Ticket Sales
Looking specifically at box office numbers, Imagine Dragons have consistently sold out arenas on their headlining tours. Their 2015 Smoke + Mirrors Tour sold over 500,000 tickets globally according to Billboard Boxscore.[4] The North American leg of the tour grossed $23.6 million alone.[5]
Their Evolve World Tour in support of the Evolve album was even more successful. Pollstar ranked it the 5th highest grossing tour in the world in 2017 with over $100 million in ticket sales.[6] The tour featured sold out shows at major venues like Staples Center in Los Angeles and Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.[7]
Most recently, their Mercury World Tour for Origins played to packed houses across North America in 2019. Tickets consistently sold out within minutes or hours of going on sale.[8] For example, general admission floor tickets for their Staples Center show disappeared in just 10 minutes.[9]
Notable Sold Out Shows
Tour | Venue | Location | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Smoke + Mirrors Tour | The O2 | London, UK | 20,000 |
Evolve World Tour | Allphones Arena | Sydney, Australia | 21,000 |
Mercury World Tour | Target Center | Minneapolis, MN | 20,000 |
This table shows some selected examples of sold out Imagine Dragons shows on recent tours. They have consistently sold out arenas with 20,000+ capacities worldwide.
Reasons for Strong Ticket Sales
There are several factors that explain why Imagine Dragons concerts are consistently sold out events:
- Mainstream popularity – They are one of the most popular rock artists today, with widespread radio play and tens of millions of monthly listeners on streaming services.
- Catchy songs – Their music, blending pop, rock, hip hop, and electronica, has broad appeal and their hits are widely recognizable.
- High-energy shows – The band is known for putting on dynamic, visually spectacular live shows featuring confetti, pyrotechnics, and frontman Dan Reynolds’ infectious energy.
- Limited touring – They take breaks between album cycles and tour selectively, contributing to scarcity and high demand when tickets go on sale.
- Fan loyalty – They have cultivated a dedicated fanbase over a decade who make an effort to see every tour.
The bottom line is that the combination of a hugely popular catalog of songs and a reputation for excellent live performances makes Imagine Dragons a top draw whenever they schedule concerts.
Sell Out Trends Over Time
Imagine Dragons have generally maintained their sell out streak since their first arena headlining tour in 2013 behind Night Visions. Their popularity has grown over time with more hit albums and songs.
However, there are indications that the speed of sell outs has slowed slightly in recent years as the initial mania has worn off. Their 2015 tour still saw immediate sell outs. But tickets for the 2017 Evolve tour took a few days or weeks in some markets based on media reports.[10] The Origins tour in 2019 also had slower sales for some venues, though most dates ultimately sold out.[11]
This points to their popularity remaining very high, but the initial frenzy tapering off as the novelty factor decreases. But overall, demand still exceeds supply enough for their concerts to sell out in nearly all markets.
Other Factors Influencing Demand
There are also external factors that can influence general concert demand and impact Imagine Dragons’ sell out ability in specific cases:
Timing Relative to Album Release
Tours immediately following a new album release tend to have the highest demand. For example, the Smoke + Mirrors tour started just two weeks after that album dropped. In contrast, the Origins tour began nearly a year after the album release. Fans are usually most eager right after new music comes out.
Tour Routing and Frequency
Imagine Dragons have focused touring in North America, Europe, Australia and parts of Asia. Countries and cities that don’t get a tour stop for long periods can have pent up demand that fuels instant sell outs. Also, visiting a city less frequently can make tickets more scarce and valuable.
Economic Conditions
Recessions or financial crises can dampen consumers’ willingness to spend money on concerts among other discretionary purchases. However, Imagine Dragons tend to price tickets competitively, with an average around $65 on their last tour.[12] This still makes shows accessible for many fans even in down economies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the data clearly shows that Imagine Dragons concerts consistently sell out across venues, cities, and tours year after year. This is driven by their mainstream popularity, catchy music, reputation for excellent shows, and limited touring schedule. While the speed of sell outs may be slowing slightly from the initial hype, demand remains high enough to fill arenas. Given their past success, upcoming tours are very likely to continue selling out as fans make attending their energetic shows a priority.