Las Vegas Residencies. They have been a thing since the very early days of Las Vegas. Although they really weren’t called that, until more recently.
Las Vegas Residencies Were The Norm Back In Early Days
Frank Sinatra, The Rat Pack, Don Rickles, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Liberace. Comedians like Shecky Greene, Pat Cooper, and Rich Little. They all did weeks at a time, and then more weeks, in Las Vegas lounges, and what they called main rooms, or big rooms.
My own father’s group, The Gaylords (later, Gaylord & Holiday), worked weeks at a time in Las Vegas at The Dunes, The Sands, The Riviera, The Flamingo, and the now defunct Tropicana. That was commonplace in old Vegas in the 50’s and 60’s.
Las Vegas Welcomed Blockbuster Headliners In The 70’s And 80’s
The big headliners started working those main showrooms in the 70’s and 80’s. Tom Jones, Englebert, Elvis, Cher, Dolly, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, George Carlin, Jay Leno.
They would do a weekend maybe every few months, if you were lucky, and that was it. So you had to get those tickets fast, or you might not see them again.
In the later 80′ early 90’s, the Las Vegas entertainment landscape started to change. Bigger, and newer names started playing Las Vegas.
The Concert Scene Begins in Las Vegas
The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2, REM, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Def Leppard, and Alanis. Concerts became the thing, And now, bigger rooms were being built, and filling with people.
The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel was built. The House of Blues was built. The Aladdin Theater was built, and re-built. The Thomas and Mack Center. All doing concerts now, which was a little new to Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Residency Is Back
The Las Vegas residency truly became a thing when the one and only, Celine Dion, began what would become a years long residency, at Caesars Palace.
Celine did two blockbuster residencies at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and they were both a massive success. Her residency went on to solidify what is now a big thing in Las Vegas.
Although I still personally question whether you can call it a residency when it is broken up, and only a day or two is done every few weeks. But it is, and they are huge.
Here are the biggest money-making residencies Las Vegas has seen over the years.
1. Celine Dion - A New Day: $565 Million
Celine Dion – A New Day ran 2003 – 2007. The residency was at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which was completely re-built for the show. The residency did over 700 shows, and Celine sang her biggest hits, as only she could. Including the beast, ‘My Heart Will Go On’, from Titanic. In total, the residency generated over $565.7 million in revenue.
2. Celine Dion - Celine: $352.7 Million
This was Celine Dion’s second concert residency. Also at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. This one ran eight years from 2011 to 2019, generating over $352.7 million dollars. Celine performed almost 430 shows throughout this residency. Between her two residencies, almost 1200 shows!
U2: Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere - $244 million
The MSG Sphere opened in Las Vegas in September of 2023, with U2. It was a spectacular show, and event, that ran September – early March of 2023. 40 performances, over $244.5 million. U2’s played their biggest hits, including ‘With or Without You’, ‘Beautiful Day’ and ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’.
Elton John: The Red Piano: $240 Million
Also at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Elton John did 248 shows, in a five year run, that began in 2004. The show made $240 million. He began the “Million Dollar Piano” in 2011, and that ran through 2018.
Britney Spears: Piece Of Me: $170 Million
Britney Spears began a residency at Planet Hollywood in 2013. Like Britney or not, it fired things up as far as residencies in Las Vegas went. Britney brought it! To the tune of over 170 million dollars. Because she’s Britney, bi***!
