Garth Brooks Blows into the Windy City; Sells Out Eight Shows in Chicago; Breaks Genesis Record 

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 5, 1997--Despite pouring rain in Chicago, more than 20,000 people lined up Saturday morning to buy Garth Brooks concert tickets. Fans purchased over 139,000 tickets in less than four hours for eight sold-out shows at the Rosemont Horizon. The shows are scheduled for Oct. 21-26 and Dec. 18-19. 

Brooks' ticket sales shattered the Rosemont Horizon's existing attendance record that was set by Genesis in 1987 (76,000 tickets/five shows). In purchasing so many tickets, Chicago fans showed the extraordinary extent of their support for live music. The Rolling Stones just launched the North American leg of their "Bridges to Babylon" tour with two shows at Chicago's Soldier Field in front of 110,000 fans. 

Saturday marked the biggest one-day on-sale of Brooks' career, both in terms of total tickets sold and the number of ticket outlets utilized (158). Only in Dallas in 1993 did Brooks sell more tickets (195,000) for his three sold-out concerts at Texas Stadium; however, each show was sold on a different day. This is also the first occasion calling for Brooks to re-route his tour to return to a city and complete a run of sold-out shows. 

The first show that went on sale in Chicago sold out in eight minutes. The first two shows together sold out in less than 25 minutes. Everyone in line was able to purchase tickets.

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