That’s the ticket! Fenway concerts brought in $125M in 2024

The Fenway summer concert series, a musical venture that started as an experiment more than twenty years ago, has become an economic juggernaut, with the program bringing nearly $125 million to local businesses across 12 acts in 2024, according to a Tourism Economics report.

“The Fenway Park Concert Series is a boon for our visitor economy and the businesses that rely on it,” said Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of Meet Boston. “These concerts generate significant visitor spending, filling restaurants and hotel rooms while producing more shifts and wages for our industry workforce. Meet Boston commissioned this study to demonstrate the tremendous impact that these concerts create for our destination.”

The report, conducted by the independent group Tourism Economics, details how the 12 concerts from June to September 2024 brought out 393,200 visitors to the Fenway area.

The 2024 Nucar Fenway Concert series saw Lana Del Rey, Hootie and the Blowfish, Kane Brown, Foo Fighters, Blink-182, Def Leopard and Journey, Green Day and Post Malone perform, along with Noah Kahan and Pearl Jam twice each.

The park announced 10 concerts for the 2025 season, but two were canceled as of Thursday. Shakira and Jason Aldean both had their performances cancelled Thursday and Friday due to stage safety concerns, the venue announced just hours before the first show.

The economic impact report details that the concerts generated $42.9 million for operational spending including staffing, security and other expenses at the event.

The concertgoers also spent a total of $45.7 million off-site in local restaurants, hotels, retailers and other amenities, the report stated. Lodging spending led the off-site expenses with $14.1 million generated, followed by food with $13.2 million.

In total, the concert series supported part-time and full-time jobs and brought in another $8.6 million in state and local taxes, the report said.

“The Fenway Concert Series plays a vital role in supporting local businesses, offering significant value in terms of exposure and promotion,” said Michael Minichello, general manager of Time Out Market Boston. … “While baseball continues to draw its loyal fans, the concert series broadens our audience beyond the realm of sports. These events generate increased foot traffic and contribute to a vibrant atmosphere that benefits hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other local establishments alike.”

The venue has hosted musical acts for just over two decades.

“It’s hard to believe this all started as an experiment in 2003 with one Bruce Springsteen show to test whether concerts at Fenway could really work,” said Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “Now, more than 20 years later, it’s become a signature part of summer in Boston. These shows bring incredible energy to the ballpark and meaningful economic impact to our neighboring businesses and city.”

The summer concert series is set to continue with two performances by Hozier on June 23 and 24.