What are metro Detroit's biggest concert venues? Here's the list.
Brian McCollum- Country star Zach Bryan is set to play for 112,000 fans in September at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
- The concert will set an all-time U.S. concert attendance record.
- Other large venues for concerts in southeast Michigan include Ford Field, Comerica Park, Hart Plaza and Little Caesars Arena.
When it comes to live music, Detroit has long been celebrated as one of the world’s hotbeds — famously known for its high-energy audiences and rich homegrown musical history.
The concert action happens nightly across metro Detroit, in places miniscule, midsize and massive.
Here’s a rundown of the big spots. Attendance capacities fluctuate over time as venues evolve with renovations, new seating arrangements and even parking changes. These are the statistics as of spring 2025.
1. Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor)
Concert capacity: approximately 112,000
For now, this one comes with an asterisk.
Until country star Zach Bryan actually performs on Sept. 27, the University of Michigan's football palace isn't officially a music venue. In its 98 years, the cavernous Michigan Stadium has never hosted a concert, mostly because of old backstage logistical limitations.
But Bryan’s breakthrough booking is on track to make history: In February, his fans quickly snatched up more than 112,000 tickets, positioning Michigan Stadium to set an all-time U.S. concert attendance record come September. And it likely heralds a new era of big shows at the Big House.
2. Ford Field (Detroit)
Concert capacity: approximately 70,000
The Detroit Lions’ downtown home has hosted some of music’s premier names since its 2002 opening, when the stadium was inaugurated with a show by the Rolling Stones. Upcoming 2025 events include two-night stands from the Weeknd and Chris Brown.
As with other stadiums and arenas, Ford Field’s volume varies based on stage configurations. Most sold-out shows there clock in at about 50,000.
The full 70,000 potential was realized in early 2020, when Garth Brooks’ tight, in-the-round staging helped him notch the stadium’s all-time concert attendance mark.
3. Comerica Park (Detroit)
Concert capacity: approximately 50,000
Comerica Park’s debut season in summer 2000 featured a Dave Matthews Band concert — the first in what became an annual tradition of shows in the Tigers’ den, backdropped by the Detroit skyline.
Musical guests have included the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Metallica, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen and Elton John.
Typical sellout attendance is about 40,000. But that volume can stretch: When Eminem and Jay-Z played a 2010 doubleheader, for instance, they drew more than 100,000 fans over two nights.
4. Hart Plaza (Detroit)
Concert capacity: approximately 30,000
When Hart Plaza opened in 1975 at Detroit's core — the fountainhead of Woodward Avenue on the riverfront — it was soon buzzing with activity.
Events have included popular summer ethnic festivals and milestones such as Stevie Wonder’s Detroit tricentennial celebration in 2001, along with the late Downtown Hoedown and the electronic music fest now known as Movement.
Hart Plaza generated some wild attendance claims back in the day, with event promoters often trumpeting crowds of 1 million-plus. In reality, the site’s 14-acre footprint can accommodate 40,000 people — or about 30,000 for music festivals once accounting for stages and amenities.
5. Little Caesars Arena (Detroit)
Concert capacity: approximately 17,000
Like most modern arenas, LCA was designed with concert experiences in mind, a big advance from the days when music tours got force-fitted into facilities built sports-first.
Kid Rock opened the downtown arena in 2017 with a six-night, sold-out homecoming stand. Since then, LCA has been the go-to Detroit destination for major arena tours, taking the place of longstanding venues such as the Palace of Auburn Hills and Joe Louis Arena.
When an artist stages a 360-degree show in the round — midway across the floor — Little Caesars Arena can fit crowds of up to 17,000.
6. Pine Knob Music Theatre (Clarkston)
Concert capacity: 15,040
Pine Knob was the first major U.S. amphitheater purpose-built for rock and pop music. And since that 1972 opening, it has thrived as one of the nation’s top outdoor summer venues, regularly landing atop the yearly box-office charts.
Amid ongoing tweaks to seating and entryways, Pine Knob’s capacity has shifted through the years. These days, between the pavilion and lawn, crowds can reach 15,040.
7. Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre (Sterling Heights)
Concert capacity: 8,400
The venue formerly known as Freedom Hill Amphitheatre has become a fixture of metro Detroit’s summer concert scene, featuring a busy schedule of rock, country and, increasingly, R&B. It’s often a spot to catch stars on the rise.
With recently added parking areas, Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre has expanded its capacity and now accommodates up to 8,400 attendees.
8. Meadow Brook Amphitheatre (Rochester Hills)
Concert capacity: 7,680
Meadow Brook’s pastoral setting on the Oakland University campus has made it a longtime destination for singer-songwriters, classic-rock acts and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
The amphitheater's concert calendar has been scaled back in recent years, but it continues to host a steady schedule of popular summer shows.
9. Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre (Detroit)
Concert capacity: 6,000
Long known as Chene Park, this riverside venue got its new name after the Queen of Soul’s 2018 passing. While still a leading hub for R&B and smooth jazz, the Aretha has made increasing forays into rock and country, including dates this summer with Jamey Johnson and Clint Black.
Boaters frequently gather on the Detroit River for music nights at the amphitheater, which is marking its 40th anniversary in 2025.
10. Masonic Temple Theatre (Detroit)
Concert capacity: 4,900
The 99-year-old Masonic Temple complex features multiple gathering spaces. But the real jewel is this handsome theater, a longtime concert hot spot with a schedule of genre-spanning shows. It also happens to be the favorite homecoming spot for Detroit native Jack White, who in 2013 contributed nearly $150,000 to help bring the building out of tax arrears.
11. Fox Theatre (Detroit)
Concert capacity: 4,800
The exquisite Fox is heading toward a 100th anniversary in 2028 — four decades after its restoration by Mike Ilitch, who injected new life into one of the most distinguished historic theaters in the United States. The Fox remains the crown jewel of downtown Detroit's theater district and was further upgraded in 2024 with modernized seats and aisle lighting.
More Detroit area concert venues:
- Fillmore Detroit: 2,800
- Detroit Opera House: 2,700
- Sound Board (Detroit): 2,400
- Fisher Theatre (Detroit): 2,058
- Orchestra Hall (Detroit): 2,000
- Royal Oak Music Theatre: 2,000
- Music Hall (Detroit): 1,731
- Michigan Theater (Ann Arbor): 1,610
- The Crofoot Ballroom (Pontiac): 1,100
- Majestic Theatre (Detroit): 1,100
- Saint Andrew’s Hall (Detroit): 1,000
Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.