NASHVILLE, TN. (CMA) - Persistent showers from tropical storm Arlene didn't dampen the spirit of "Country Music's Biggest Party" with a record 145,355 people attending CMA
Music Festival June 9-12 in Downtown Nashville. "Our fans are the most dedicated fans in the world," said CMA Executive
Director Ed Benson. "They didn't let the weather spoil the fun. They were on their feet singing in the rain and dancing in the aisles until the very end."
Attendance at the Festival hit an all-time high. Single concert tickets at the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages at Riverfront Park and the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum were up 38 percent. In fact, CMA opened the upper level of The Coliseum for the first time in four years to accommodate the demand for single concert tickets.
"I see increased single concert ticket sales as an indication of increased local support and participation in the
Music Festival," Benson said. "Local companies and individuals are embracing this event as never before."
All available four-day ticket packages sold out, which represent a 16 percent increase over 2004. "We were able to put a few additional four-days on sale, and as soon as these seats were made available, they were gone," Benson said of the demand for four-day packages. "We certainly could have sold more." And due to the increased demand, this year CMA is reallocating Coliseum seating to provide for more four-day ticket passes in 2006.
And the fans want to come back. Tickets for CMA
Music Festival 2006, June 8-11, went on sale Saturday and four-day ticket packages sold fast topping 2005's first day sales by a robust 44 percent. And the popular Gold Circle seats are already sold out. "They are coming back based on the experience they had this year, and from what we heard during the event and what we are seeing at the box office, that experience was good," Benson said.
Police crowd estimates from the free areas including Bush's Baked Beans Family Zone, the Fun Zone and Sports Zone stayed the same year-to-year. Attendance figures were very strong
Thursday and Friday, but showers from Arlene caused the crowds to diminish over the weekend.
Attendance has grown from 124,000 in 2003, to 132,000 in 2004 to more than 145,000 in 2005. "CMA's goal has always been to grow this event into a world-class Festival for our fans, our artists, our industry and our city," Benson said. "And working together with our key stakeholders and partners, we are beginning to accomplish that goal."
Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum 35 acts participated in the star-studded Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum over the four days with continuous shows on the enormous dual stages. Collaborations were the highlight of
Thursday night with
Dolly Parton performing with The Grascals and recent "American Idol" winner
Carrie Underwood performing with Phil Vassar. The rest of the star-packed lineup included Dierks Bentley,
Julie Roberts, Sugarland, Trick Pony,
Keith Urban and Lee Ann Womack.
Fans were treated to performances Friday by Sara Evans, Josh Gracin,
Craig Morgan, Rascal Flatts, SHeDAISY,
Blake Shelton and
Travis Tritt. One of the highlights came during Alan Jackson's performance. With characteristic calm, Jackson greeted the crowd who stood in the downpour and cheered.
"I'm glad to be here tonight," he said. "Thanks for hanging around in this bad weather. And thanks for coming out and supporting my music and seeing my shows over the years." He dedicated "To Do What I Do" to them and when they roared their approval, Jackson humbly said, "Thank you so much. You make me proud."
Saturday's lineup included Trace Adkins,
Miranda Lambert, Jo Dee Messina, Joe Nichols, Wynonna,
Trisha Yearwood and the legendary Kenny Rogers. Sunday rocked the house with Jeff Bates,
Big & Rich with special guest Cowboy Troy, Chris Cagle, Diamond Rio, Andy Griggs,
Sawyer Brown and
Gretchen Wilson - who capped the night and the Festival.
Greased Lightning Daytime Stages at Riverfront Park
Montgomery Gentry got the 2005 CMA
Music Festival off to a rousing start when they arrived on a camouflage, all terrain four-wheeler complete with police escort to kick off the event. Fans were waiting well before dawn to see the pair - along with
Dierks Bentley and
Julie Roberts - interviewed on national television by ABC's "Good Morning America" weatherman Tony Perkins.
Throughout the four days, the riverfront dual stages bustled with a rich array of more than 100 acts from both major and independent record labels performing nearly 30 hours of concerts - despite occasional rain delays.
CMA
Music Festival Kick Off
Parade New in 2005 was the CMA
Music Festival Kick Off Parade, which traversed four blocks on Broadway before ending at Riverfront Park for the launch of the Festival with Montgomery Gentry. Riding atop classic and contemporary Chevy vehicles were artists and celebrities including
David Ball, Bush's Baked Beans spokesduo Jay Bush and his dog Duke, Brad Cotter, Cowboy Crush, Cowboy Troy, Kassie DePaiva, Lila McCann, NASCAR Busch Series driver
Boston Reid (driver of the No. 51 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports), Forty5 South and Lane Turner. CMA's Benson presided as the parade's honorary Grand Marshal.
Wrangler Fan Fair
The state of continuous commotion that's been the standard for the Wrangler Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) was back in force at the 2005 CMA
Music Festival. A total of 373 acts and celebrities appeared in the Wrangler Fan Fair at the Nashville Convention Center for the autograph and photo sessions. Exhibit booths sold out with 117 exhibitors. Attendance over the four days was up from 37,000 in 2004 to 43,567 in 2005. In fact, several people camped overnight on the sidewalk outside the Convention Center to be the first in line.
Trace Adkins, Blue County, Bush's Baked Beans spokesduo Jay Bush and his dog Duke, Rodney Carrington, "Nashville Star" winner
Erika Jo,
Buddy Jewell,
Miranda Lambert, Jo Dee Messina, the stars of NBC Daytime, Oak Ridge Boys, Sawyer Brown,
Blake Shelton,
Aaron Tippin,
Cowboy Troy "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood, Bryan White and
Darryl Worley generated lots of excitement and strong lines of enthusiastic fans - as did many others.
Firebrand
Tanya Tucker signed 300+ autographs over the course of the event.
Dierks Bentley spent three hours greeting fans,
Big & Rich signed at least 100 autographs and Kix Brooks showed up unannounced at the
Brooks & Dunn booth and spent nearly four hours meeting fans and signing autographs.
The Acoustic Corner, which launched in 2004, featured 28 performers. The area on the second floor of the Convention Center was packed with fans who often ended up following the artists to their booths after their performance for autographs.
