All we now that is confirmed right now in the Guns N' Roses world, is that they will be playing Coachella on April 16 and 23 with Slash back on guitar and Duff McKagan back on bass. There has been an unbelievable amount of rumors circulating that the band will also embark on a stadium tour this summer, and while that's still not out of the question, the band's asking price of around a rumored $3 million per show might scare some promoters off.
Billboard breaks down how this might be a bit of a nightmare for pretty much everyone who isn't Guns N' Roses.
The financial risks for stadium shows are huge, even with proven draws. Production costs run roughly $1.6 million — plus talent costs and an average tax of five to seven percent. With those expenses, it could take a box-office gross of about $4.8 million just to break even, and with an acceptable promoter profit of $300,000-400,000, the gross would have to hit $5.1-5.2 million before the band would get into overage (meaning enough tickets have been sold for the band to receive a percentage of the gross).
Stadiums provide the capacity to put 8,000-9,000 tickets at the P1 price point of about $250, providing the artist can sell at that level; one promoter interviewed by Billboard estimates a ticket scale ranging from $250 – $59. To come out in the black on these estimated expenses would require a $100 average ticket price on 50,000 fans, or a $90 average ticket price on 60,000 tickets sold.
It seems like an insane amount on paper, but the pulling power of Guns N' Roses with a semi-reunited lineup just might be the magic everyone in this situation needs to make a whole boatload of money.
That is, if the $3 million is even true.
The report also states that the band is to be one of the first acts set to play Las Vegas' new venue, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. No idea on a locked-in date, but the venue is set to open April 6.
