Country music star Zach Bryan has made history. On September 27, 2025, more than 112,000 fans filled Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The performance set a new record for the highest-attended ticketed concert in U.S. history. It also marked a turning point for the iconic venue.
The Big House Becomes a Concert Stage
Michigan Stadium, home to the University of Michigan football team, had never hosted a major concert. That changed when Bryan delivered a seven-hour show featuring five acts. Special guest John Mayer joined the lineup, along with Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen, Joshua Slone, and Keenan O’Meara. Bryan himself performed a 27-song set lasting two and a half hours. “I’ll remember this forever, Michigan,” he told the crowd, as reported by Rolling Stone.
The numbers behind the event were staggering. Promoter AEG Presents reported 112,408 attendees, surpassing George Strait’s 2024 record at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field. The show also eclipsed the Grateful Dead’s 1977 Raceway Park performance. Tickets sold out in less than 2.5 hours. Merchandise sales reached $5 million, another all-time high. The University of Michigan athletics department projected $1.7 million in net revenue and hinted at future concerts at the stadium.
A Cultural Milestone
Bryan’s momentum extends well beyond the stage. His 2024 album The Great American Bar Scene placed 17 of its 19 tracks on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2022 hit Something in the Orange has topped 1.4 billion Spotify streams. With 26 million monthly listeners, a Grammy win, and a fresh deal with Warner Records, Bryan has become one of modern country’s most influential voices.
The Michigan Stadium show was more than a record-setting night. It proved the unifying force of live music, highlighted Bryan’s rise, and opened the Big House to future concerts. For fans and the industry, it was an unforgettable cultural milestone.
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