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Michigan Stadium concerts: What other artists could play the Big House?

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•02/13/25•

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Michigan Stadium will host a Zach Bryan concert in September, but what other acts could come next? [Pictured: Beyonce (left) and Metallica (right), USA Today Images]

Michigan Stadium is now doubling as a live music venue with the announcement that Zach Bryan and John Mayer will put on the first-ever concert on Sept. 27 in Ann Arbor. The move seemingly signals U-M’s shift to hosting a wider variety of events to add another revenue stream to the athletic department.

The Big House can seat as many as 115,000 with the capacity for thousands more on the field depending on a stage setup. That means any show held at Michigan football’s home has to involve a heavy hitter to move tickets and drive revenue.

RELATED: Michigan Stadium to hold first-ever concert: Zach Bryan, John Mayer coming in September

The Zach Bryan show has a chance to break the North American attendance record for a concert, which was set in June 2024 when George Strait played a show to 110,905 people at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field. That should be a big draw for artists and promoters looking to set new venue records with the largest stadium in the country now open for business.

Here are some logical candidates for more Michigan Stadium shows moving forward.

Taylor Swift

Considering Swift just got off her famed Eras Tour that grossed over $2 billion, there are not many more ways for her to go bigger and bolder. This would be a white whale addition for U-M and the Ann Arbor community for all of the travel and fanfare it would provide.

Beyonce

Few artists come close to Swift when it comes to drawing a crowd, but Beyonce is one of them. Her “Cowboy Carter” tour is expected to be one of the biggest of 2025, and she already has experience shouting out the Wolverines.

The Rolling Stones

There are not many rock bands headlining stadiums these days, but The Rolling Stones are still getting after it and are a big draw. The rock legends just grossed $235 million on their Hackney Diamonds tour.

U2

U2 is another massive draw internationally and most recently played a residency at the Las Vegas sphere. It would not be the first time they have played a college football venue in the state of Michigan, having played at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on June 26, 2011.

Bruce Springsteen

“The Boss” had the fifth-highest grossing tour last year with an estimated $251.3 million brought in. Springsteen is known for his high-energy shows with long setlists, which could make for an epic night in Ann Arbor.

Metallica

Metallica’s M72 tour has been playing in NFL and international soccer stadiums for the last two years with a third leg scheduled for 2025. Booking one of metal’s biggest bands could also come with their “takeover weekend” with two shows in the round at the 50-yard line with two unique setlists on each night.

Coldplay

The band brought in $421.7 million on its Music Of The Spheres tour last year and has made a career out of grandiose spectacles in its live shows. By a lot of metrics, they are the biggest non-Taylor Swift touring act in the world.

Billy Joel

The Piano Man himself is no stranger to playing stadiums with a concert with Stevie Nicks coming up in Detroit on March 29 at Ford Field. Despite a lack of new music over the last three decades, Joel is one of the best-selling acts in America and has a die-hard fanbase.

Paul McCartney

If big shows at the Big House are the objective, it’s hard to not get excited about a former member of The Beatles coming to Ann Arbor. McCartney has not played the state of Michigan since 2017, so what better venue to make his return?

Kenny Chesney

The country music megastar is the highest-grossing act in his genre, so a Chesney show at the Big House would have the potential for a massive draw. He frequently plays NFL stadiums across the country.

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