Feb. 1, 2018

More people attended events at the Denny Sanford Premier Center last year than in nearby markets with larger venues.

Touring event ticket sales of 239,089 ranked the venue No. 44 nationwide and No. 84 worldwide according to Pollstar.

That’s ahead of Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln at 85th in the world and Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines at 94th. Omaha’s CenturyLink Center ranked just ahead of Sioux Falls at No. 78.

The year was bolstered by multiple Garth Brooks concerts.

“2017 was another great year of tours at the Premier Center,” said Chris Semrau, assistant general manager of the event center. “The Premier Center increased touring-event attendance by 69,000 over 2016 thanks to some very successful shows, including the nine sold-out concerts by Garth Brooks.”

Pollstar’s rankings listed the Premier Center at 88th in the world in 2016 with attendance of 170,843, and 100th in 2015, the venue’s first full year of operation.