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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BeenBanned69Times t1_iwnvq6j wrote

XL Center definitely sounds more fitting for Lizzo

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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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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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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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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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Kolzig33189 t1_iwo0d88 wrote

Replying to Tonydildos (#550,496)

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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Hotsauce61 t1_iwo1119 wrote

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

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solomons-marbles t1_iwo6ggo wrote

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

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Illustrious-Chip-245 t1_iwo6jkn wrote

Replying to albundypolkhigh33 (#550,443)

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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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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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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Illustrious-Chip-245 t1_iwp617w wrote

Replying to bayo1 (#551,787)

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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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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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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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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itsmills420 t1_iwpvp05 wrote

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

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Momofthehouse- t1_iwpvwli wrote

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

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giant_toad42 t1_iwq409i wrote

Replying to IndicationOver (#550,430)

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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ec34500 OP t1_iwq48ew wrote

Replying to itsmills420 (#554,121)

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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giant_toad42 t1_iwq48ln wrote

Replying to solomons-marbles (#550,930)

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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itsmills420 t1_iwqi9ku wrote

Replying to ec34500 (#554,731)

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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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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Logical-Decision2141 t1_iwqv1v9 wrote

Replying to Select-Asparagus-494 (#553,418)

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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IndicationOver t1_iwrk287 wrote

Replying to giant_toad42 (#554,714)

>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

Replying to IndicationOver (#558,332)

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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