Record-breaking show: Zach Bryan plays largest ticketed concert in US history inside The Big House

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY-winning artist Zach Bryan made history as the first artist ever to play at Michigan Stadium, for an audience of 112,408.

The event occurred on Saturday (Sept. 27) with special guest John Mayer and support from Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen and Joshua Slone, the largest ticketed show in U.S. history, also set a merchandise sales record in the amount of $5 Million.

Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the U.S. and the third largest in the world.

While the Ann Arbor stadium has previously held other sporting events, including soccer matches and college and professional hockey games, the event was the first time an artist headlined a concert at The Big House.

The show was the second-ever concert inside The Big House, and it’s first ever since 1987.

The University of Michigan Athletic Department and Bryan jointly announced the historic concert on Wednesday (Feb. 12).

During the initial announcement, it was reported that the concert would be the stadium’s first ever, but that has since been debunked.

On Nov. 11, 1987, “A Concert for Kids” was hosted by the group “Leaders in Prevention,” headed by Millie Schembechler, wife of legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, and televised by WDIV-TV/PASS Sports.

The purpose was to inform high school kids of the dangers of substance abuse.

Over 5,000 high school students attended the free concert, which was filmed with seven cameras by WDIV-TV and later broadcast statewide on the PASS SPORTS cable network.

The Music Headliner was a national Rock recording group, Adrenalin, from Detroit. Also performing was a National Youth Choir.

Special Celebrity guests included coach Bo, Detroit Tigers legends Willie Horton and Daryl Evans, the wife of Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas, and national motivational speaker Les Brown.

The concert was the only event, other than Michigan football and graduation ceremonies, ever held at Michigan Stadium until Sept. 27, 2025, and the only televised production at the stadium, aside from a Michigan football game.

The “Concert for Kids” was produced by Gerry Zonca, a University of Michigan alumnus and Emmy-nominated Special Events Producer for WDIV-TV.

Zonca also produced the two-hour prime-time television special, “A Salute to Bo,” which aired on WDIV-TV in 1990. Millie served as executive producer.

The Big House

The Big House is the largest football stadium in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest stadium in the world, hence the nickname “Big House.”

Michigan Stadium has previously hosted other events, including soccer matches and college and professional hockey games.

However, Bryan will be the first artist to headline a concert inside The Big House.

--> Zach Bryan electrifies fans with ‘The Quittin’ Time Tour’ in Detroit

Bryan recently wrapped “The Quittin’ Time Tour,” which saw him play 85 arenas and stadiums across North America.

He will headline Stagecoach Festival 2025 in Indio, California, and was recently announced as a two-night headliner at BST Hyde Park Festival 2025 in London, England.

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