XL Center vs. Mohegan

Submitted by ec34500 t3_yxbo8s in Connecticut

Can anybody shed some light on why so many artists skip Hartford on their arena tours and go to Mohegan instead? With Lizzo recently announcing tour dates and announcing she's coming to Hartford (a happy surprise) it got me thinking why so many artists skip. Especially because XL Center is larger capacity by about 5K.

I also noticed tickets are sold through the XL Center box office/online vs. through Ticketmaster and that has me wondering if that's got something to do with it?

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albundypolkhigh33 t1_iwny0v3 wrote

Mohegan offers more in guarantees to the artists.

The casino will give out comp tickets to high rollers hoping they make up the money with them gambling.

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Illustrious-Chip-245 t1_iwo6jkn wrote

This, coupled with the fact that XL Center has more permanent tenants (Wolf Pack, UConn) that need to be scheduled around and the time factor for changing over the area when the ice is in. And Mohegan adds a 90 day, 90 mile radius clause to their show contracts so artists won’t ever play both venues in the same tour.

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bayo1 t1_iwoljbz wrote

can you elaborate on that last sentence?

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Illustrious-Chip-245 t1_iwp617w wrote

It means the artists agree not to play anywhere within 90 miles of Mohegan during a 90 day window before or after the show. I’m sure it’s negotiated on a case by case basis but that’s the general gist of what they ask artists to agree to.

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HazelFrederick t1_iwq9xhu wrote

Great for sales, but in my experience the crowd really blows when it’s full of comps.

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Hotsauce61 t1_iwo1119 wrote

There’s a lot more fun for the artist at a casino

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WhyTheHellnaut t1_iwojp7a wrote

Mohegan is between Hartford and Providence, so there are two metro areas that meet there. XL Center is mainly just Hartford and maybe Springfield.

Also, for the same reason the CT Sun plays at Mohegan- more people are likely to buy tickets if they're there to gamble and happen to notice an event they're interested in, or vice versa where the fans are more likely to come if they can do other fun stuff like gamble.

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D1a1s1 t1_iwpl0y4 wrote

Also, Mohegan owns the CT Sun team.

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dadbod_fresh t1_iwppc5a wrote

It’s really not “between” though. It’s maybe a 20 minute difference from Providence to Mohegan vs Providence to Hartford.

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nutmegryder t1_iwpgccd wrote

Mohegan presents the artist with an “all-inclusive”, in house deal. (Security, artist catering, stage hands, f&b vendors, etc.) This takes a toll on many independent contractors throughout CT. To contrast, take a look at how Westville Bowl utilizes a variety of contractors and outside food vendors. Mohegan has had a big impact on places like the Oakdale and the contractors who work there as well.

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Select-Asparagus-494 t1_iwpkyce wrote

You hit it on the head with your last sentence. Mohegan uses ticketmaster, which is owned by Live Nation. Live Nation has a monopoly in show promotion, and pushes all of their acts through their arenas, like Mohegan.

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Select-Asparagus-494 t1_iwpq0g0 wrote

This recent article can provide more context about the monopoly that is Live Nation/TicketMaster...

Taylor Swift meltdown caused by Ticketmaster abusing its market power, Senate antitrust chair says

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/17/business/ticketmaster-taylor-swift-amy-klobuchar-letter/index.html

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TimeTraveler3056 t1_iwq6w45 wrote

I hope this investigation develops into forcing ticketmaster to stop being such assholes.

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Logical-Decision2141 t1_iwqv1v9 wrote

And the fees are outrageous. Shows are also cheaper at xl center then Mohegan. I paid 54.00 for Jeff Dunham tickets in feb. before fees. section 1 on the floor. When he was at the casino in august they were like 95.00 before fees or something like that.

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elkb0y t1_iwnxhcc wrote

I’m sure an artist gets paid better at a casino cuz they want people there to lose money, also it’s freaking cold outside

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PrpleMnkyDshwsher t1_iwpmj0u wrote

The sound at Mohegan is like listening to a 55 gallon drum of ball bearings being dropped at height onto a floor covered in loose cookie sheets.

The place sucks.

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sterlingminuteman t1_iwqed56 wrote

We just saw Hall & Oates there. Can confirm. Although later I learned that their sound has been a problem for the band their entire tour.

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itsmills420 t1_iwpvp05 wrote

personally if i was an artist, im picking mohegan 10/10

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ec34500 OP t1_iwq48ew wrote

Yeah makes sense! I feel like Mohegan marks up the ticket prices and Hartford has a larger venue so as a fan I'm getting a better deal if they play XL center

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itsmills420 t1_iwqi9ku wrote

i totallllyy understand that, imo the sound quality at xl is pretty crappy. its a fun vibe though, always was a good time. I havent been since pre covid though :( so things might have changed since

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sld06003 t1_iwpre6j wrote

There are a lot of sports at the XL center, especially with UConn hockey there now too. So limited date availability might play into it a bit? But I think others have said it.... Mohegan and foxwoods can offer artists more money because they aren't just the arena, they will make money from all the restaurants, hotels and gambling from the concert attendees. xL makes money from tickets and concessions only

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gregra193 t1_iwot5f5 wrote

Mohegan Sun has stuff to do before and after. Free parking. Closer to wealthier areas. Further away from the Boston market.

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Momofthehouse- t1_iwpvwli wrote

Lizzos coming to Hartford!!!!!!!!!!!???????

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ec34500 OP t1_iwq4b5p wrote

YES! In may! There's an amex presale going on now I believe and regular tickets go on sale soon

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var_guitar t1_iwqiaer wrote

Before moving to CT I lived in the SF Bay Area, where several concerts that would have been at Shoreline Amphitheater in previous years ended up being hosted at the Chase Center (the Warriors’ new stadium) once it was open for business. I heard that one factor in this is that Shoreline has a pretty strict curfew compared to Chase Center, and artists don’t prefer this. So, this makes me wonder if curfew is a factor for these CT shows.

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Personal_Vacation217 t1_iwqucwu wrote

because mohegan is pretty much an ideal venue for a concert. Very easy drive, free parking, can eat/gamble/drink whatever while you wait for the concert and after it, and most concerts I've gone to there, the band sounds great despite the poor acoustics in the arena

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solomons-marbles t1_iwo6ggo wrote

Would you rather stay at the Hartford Marriott or at Foxwoods?

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giant_toad42 t1_iwq48ln wrote

Foxwoods.

IDK why people are getting so defensive over calling out Hartford as disappointing. It is. The city needs help. I want Hartford to be great, sure. I want an awesome city near me - but - it's not here and it's been going downhill for decades.

The CITY is not the PEOPLE, people.

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IndicationOver t1_iwnxr2m wrote

Because Hartford sucks.

I'm not joking it was my birthplace but it sucks.

Also artist go there for better hospitality. Also the ticketmaster thing you mention is for sure a factor.

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_lucid_dreams t1_iwoo6ba wrote

I only go to Hartford for events at the XL Center and yeah Hartford is pretty disappointing as a capital city

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giant_toad42 t1_iwq409i wrote

People. Why downvote?

Compare Hartford to our other cities. What's there to do?

Yard Goats - really - are the only good thing Hartford has going for it right now. Hartford needs more love, and nobody's giving it.

City needs more to do, period. ( More than Board Game night at Bushnell Park.. )

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IndicationOver t1_iwrk287 wrote

>Compare Hartford to our other cities. What's there to do?

It sucks lol.........I didn't like it growing up either. People also do not realize how small Hartford is I think, I think that is part of there reason it gets no love besides the crazy business taxes.

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giant_toad42 t1_iwrnj2l wrote

Well, yeah. The leadership in Hartford sucks. Frigging convicted old mayor trying to come back to power? Srs.

People gotta let go of this "This is fine" (dog on fire meme) attitude. Why do I say Hartford sucks? Because I want Hartford to be better. Ffs, unless we're all on board, it won't happen.

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Kolzig33189 t1_iwnw8t7 wrote

XL is a bigger venue, just one level below arena like foxboro so they attract the huge names. Mohegan is a smaller venue than even fox woods main stage, so they get a lot of B tier stuff although sometimes something like Springsteen or Journey will do a 2 night show there.

Also mohegan is obviously indoors which opens availability in winter and XL as far as I know doesn’t have winter time shows.

Edit: I now realize this is incorrect as another poster pointed out, I got XL and Xfinity centers confused.

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Tonydildos t1_iwnyvg8 wrote

XL center is not an outdoor venue

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Kolzig33189 t1_iwo0d88 wrote

You’re right, I was thinking Xfinity center or whatever The Meadows is called now, it’s changed names probably 5x..

In still trying to answer your question, Xfinity center has a ton of other events besides music acts…car shows, various UConn men and womens basketball games, etc to schedule around.

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Eyeseeno t1_iwqev7f wrote

Xfinity Theatre*

Xfinity Center is in MA (I know, confusing)

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waterford1955_2 t1_iwodb6y wrote

>Mohegan is a smaller venue than even fox woods main stage

Not true. MS arena holds 10,000. Foxwoods has nothing even close to that.

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knightofsolarisbos t1_iwpe2t3 wrote

It holds 10k as a maximum. Because most shows the stage isn't dead center of the basketball court it's more often 7200-8000 and they block off seats behind the stage.

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Kolzig33189 t1_iwpiqj5 wrote

Exactly - usually about 1/4 to 1/3 of the arena seats that are behind or to the sides of the stage are blocked off.

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waterford1955_2 t1_iwsdiyz wrote

But it's still nothing close to the capacity of the Mohegan Sun arena.

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