Why did Michael Jackson chose to do an arena(s) for This Is It instead of a stadium(s)?

[KingofPop125]

MJ sold out every single seat for the 50 shows scheduled at the O2 Arena (20,000 capacity). He could have absolutely sold out Wembley Stadium (98,000 capacity). It could have been easier for him, because a stadium can have the same (maybe more) amount of people coming to his show for less dates.

To me at least, it didn’t seem like This Is It was not big budget enough for a stadium. It was his most technically impressive show to date, and Michael has performed at stadiums for less technically sophisticated shows. This Is It would have had a glorious production design and a killer sound system. It could definitely work in a stadium.

And this is London were talking about. The rebuilt Wembley Stadium opened in 2002. Given MJ’s HIStory of always having incredible and successful concerts there, you think he would choose there.

Is there any official or speculative reasons for why he didn’t do Wembley Stadium over the O2 Arena, or if it was ever going to be a tour, arenas over stadiums for around the world?

 

[Moonstreet]

Simple reason. AEG were the promoters of the residency. AEG owned The O2 arena in London and Staples Center in LA.

It was being built for an arena venue, specifically AEG owned venue. Thats why the final rehearsals were at Staples Center, becuase it has the exact same layout and dimensions as The O2 in London.

On June 23 2009, when rehearsals moved to The Staples Center, extra tickets called production tickets went on sale for the London concerts. This is becuase when they moved to Staples Center they were able to lock in and finalize the layout and dimensions required. They sent these blueprints to London and then the London operations department were able to finalise the audience seating. They put the production tickets on sale as they have previously held back that seating space until they got the final plans and stage dimensions.

 

[mj_frenzy]

Given that Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' shows would rely heavily on visuals and theatrics, the London O2 Arena (which is an indoor arena) seemed to offer these things.

But it was also reported back then that Michael Jackson wanted to outdo Prince who had already performed 21 shows in 2007 at the London O2 Arena.

Keep in mind that Michael Jackson used to view Prince as a rival, considering also what he stated to Kenny Ortega during the 'This Is It' rehearsals.

This seems to explain why at one point it was announced that Michael Jackson would perform 25 'This Is It' shows (in total) at that same location.

 

[Moonstreet]

This seems to explain why at one point it was announced that Michael Jackson would perform 25 'This Is It' shows (in total) at that same location.

The 25 shows were the contract that Michael agreed to. When the promoters say the demand for the tickets, they added 25 more without Michaels knowledge. It was probably in the small print of the contract which Michael didnt realize.

 

[mj_frenzy]

The 25 shows were the contract that Michael agreed to. When the promoters say the demand for the tickets, they added 25 more without Michaels knowledge. It was probably in the small print of the contract which Michael didnt realize.

It has been written that the additional 25 'This Is It' shows (in total 50) were not without Michael Jackson's knowledge.

Michael Roth (the then-Vice President of AEG) stated that Michael Jackson actually agreed to do 50 shows:

"[Michael Jackson] said yes to more shows but no more than 50" (Michael Roth)

Michael Jackson agreed to do 50 'This Is It' shows (in total) but the singer stipulated a certain condition, which was that arrangements would be made to have the Guinness Book of World Records to acknowledge his record-breaking run of these 50 shows.

 

[R1chard]

Can you imagine how crappy it would be for the people at the very back of Wembley stadium?! You wouldn't be able to see who it was, nevermind count how many Swarovski crystals he was wearing.

 

[Michaels Lover]

Can you imagine how crappy it would be for the people at the very back of Wembley stadium?! You wouldn't be able to see who it was, nevermind count how many Swarovski crystals he was wearing.

Not more than any other concert at Wembley?

 

[SeriousEffect.]

Selling out a stadium would have been very unreliable for MJ at that point in his career. There are also a ton of costs associated with stadium tours that would have made the logistics horrible without a sponsor which again would have been tough for MJ at that point in his career.

 

[Blues_Away2023]

Selling out a stadium would have been very unreliable for MJ at that point in his career. There are also a ton of costs associated with stadium tours that would have made the logistics horrible without a sponsor which again would have been tough for MJ at that point in his career.

His name had been put through the gutter and reputation pretty low after the 05 trial but these concerts were 4 years later.

Considering how long it had been since he had performed regularly, Michael would have sold out Wembley with ease and on multiple occasions.

 

[wonderouzmj]

Selling out a stadium would have been very unreliable for MJ at that point in his career. There are also a ton of costs associated with stadium tours that would have made the logistics horrible without a sponsor which again would have been tough for MJ at that point in his career.

You sound crazy af

 

[SeriousEffect.]

You sound crazy af

Ouch, my feelings are in shambles

I know it's sometimes hard to separate your love for MJ from reality, but the HIStory tour lost money (a FACT that came out during the AEG trial). Why? Because it didn't have a huge sponsor and ticket sales alone weren't enough to cover expenses despite sell out shows all over the world.

There's a reason when MJ started staging his comeback he looked at residencies in Vegas initially and ended up with the AEG deal. It was meant to be the best decision for his health, his children and his finances.

AEG was paying MJ to perform as well as for all the production expenses at the O2 as they owned the arena and this would have been huge for promotion, remember it was already lined up that MJ was going to get a Guinness World record at the completion of the dates. This is common for residences at arenas and casinos, not for stadiums.

For MJ to have done shows at Wembley he would have had to front the bill up front for all the nights and rely on ticket sales to cover expenses. Let's not forget that from the late 90s and onward that MJ had a terrible habit of not following through on committed performance dates which led to more than 1 lawsuit. Imagine the amount of debt he would have been in had he booked 12 dates at Wembley and failed to make those.

Be mad at me all you want, but I gave the real answer for why he didn't do these shows at a stadium, the rest of you are more than welcome to pretend the only reason why was for the show experience.

 

[wonderouzmj]

Ouch, my feelings are in shambles

I know it's sometimes hard to separate your love for MJ from reality, but the HIStory tour lost money (a FACT that came out during the AEG trial). Why? Because it didn't have a huge sponsor and ticket sales alone weren't enough to cover expenses despite sell out shows all over the world.

There's a reason when MJ started staging his comeback he looked at residencies in Vegas initially and ended up with the AEG deal. It was meant to be the best decision for his health, his children and his finances.

AEG was paying MJ to perform as well as for all the production expenses at the O2 as they owned the arena and this would have been huge for promotion, remember it was already lined up that MJ was going to get a Guinness World record at the completion of the dates. This is common for residences at arenas and casinos, not for stadiums.

For MJ to have done shows at Wembley he would have had to front the bill up front for all the nights and rely on ticket sales to cover expenses. Let's not forget that from the late 90s and onward that MJ had a terrible habit of not following through on committed performance dates which led to more than 1 lawsuit. Imagine the amount of debt he would have been in had he booked 12 dates at Wembley and failed to make those.

Be mad at me all you want, but I gave the real answer for why he didn't do these shows at a stadium, the rest of you are more than welcome to pretend the only reason why was for the show experience.

I'm not mad. It just didn't fit right but now that you put it in that perspective...I get it

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

Selling out a stadium would have been very unreliable for MJ at that point in his career. There are also a ton of costs associated with stadium tours that would have made the logistics horrible without a sponsor which again would have been tough for MJ at that point in his career.

1st sentence is flawed and untrue, 2nd sentence is accurate.

 

[SmoothCriminal1995]

I think an arena setting would have been more intimate (to a degree) and certainly been more of spectacle. It's easier to dazzle and amaze 20,000 people in an arena with special effects, than it is with 80,000 at a stadium.

I think that's the direction Michael wanted his live show to go in, more a spectacular event than just seeing a live show from a performer.

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

Ouch, my feelings are in shambles

I know it's sometimes hard to separate your love for MJ from reality, but the HIStory tour lost money (a FACT that came out during the AEG trial). Why? Because it didn't have a huge sponsor and ticket sales alone weren't enough to cover expenses despite sell out shows all over the world.

There's a reason when MJ started staging his comeback he looked at residencies in Vegas initially and ended up with the AEG deal. It was meant to be the best decision for his health, his children and his finances.

AEG was paying MJ to perform as well as for all the production expenses at the O2 as they owned the arena and this would have been huge for promotion, remember it was already lined up that MJ was going to get a Guinness World record at the completion of the dates. This is common for residences at arenas and casinos, not for stadiums.

For MJ to have done shows at Wembley he would have had to front the bill up front for all the nights and rely on ticket sales to cover expenses. Let's not forget that from the late 90s and onward that MJ had a terrible habit of not following through on committed performance dates which led to more than 1 lawsuit. Imagine the amount of debt he would have been in had he booked 12 dates at Wembley and failed to make those.

Be mad at me all you want, but I gave the real answer for why he didn't do these shows at a stadium, the rest of you are more than welcome to pretend the only reason why was for the show experience.

This wasn't a world tour first of all, it's more like the 30th Anniversary show at Madison Square Garden. Which was? Let me guess, sold out. And made a profit?

 

[Moonstreet]

This wasn't a world tour first of all, it's more like the 30th Anniversary show at Madison Square Garden.

Exactly, theres all sorts of urban legends about how he was going to tour to this country and that country and all these fans saying they were getting tickets when he came to their country.

But the reality is, it was a one off residency in London, spaced out from July 2009 to March 2010. It was created specifically for the O2 arena in London, which is the exact same layout and design as Staples Center in LA.

As someone who experienced it all in real time, from The Press Conference in March 2009 to that traumatic night of June 25 2009, never once was there any talk of a tour, it was a residency.

 

[SmoothGangsta]

Don't see why Michael Prince would just make up the fact that MJ was going to tour elsewhere.

 

[Moonstreet]

Don't see why Michael Prince would just make up the fact that MJ was going to tour elsewhere.

Because after Michael died people were saying all sorts of things, because no one could prove otherwise.

Yes the concerts were sold out, but many people were only contracted until the end of the run in March 2010. Truth is no one knew what would happen after March 2010, after the last concert.

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

Don't see why Michael Prince would just make up the fact that MJ was going to tour elsewhere.

Well Jermaine also said that among other things. We don't tend to credit him though. Doesn't seem very different

 

[SmoothGangsta]

Well Jermaine also said that among other things. We don't tend to credit him though. Doesn't seem very different

I mean, one was talking to MJ and working with him and one wasn't.

 

[Spaceship]

MJ was never going to tour in the US again. Maybe he'd tour in other countries, but the O2 arena in London was the best option for him at the time.

 

[mj_frenzy]

Exactly, theres all sorts of urban legends about how he was going to tour to this country and that country and all these fans saying they were getting tickets when he came to their country.

But the reality is, it was a one off residency in London, spaced out from July 2009 to March 2010. It was created specifically for the O2 arena in London, which is the exact same layout and design as Staples Center in LA.

As someone who experienced it all in real time, from The Press Conference in March 2009 to that traumatic night of June 25 2009, never once was there any talk of a tour, it was a residency.

At that time, there was official talk of a 'This Is It' World Tour.

Randy Phillips released a statement (on June 2nd, 2009) which confirmed that AEG Live top executives were talking about a 'This Is It' World Tour:

"... [Michael Jackson] has not agreed to a world tour at this point, however, he can at any time ..." [Randy Phillips]

 

[dam2040]

The contract for TII pre-approved 31 dates between July 26th and September 30th. Any more, they would have to demonstrate based on advancement recouping why they are needed.

Here's the god-awful contract:

https://www.scribd.com/document/55319192/AEG-Michael-Jackson-Contract-for-This-Is-It

It was never going to be 10, or 25, and they pushed it as high as they could while being less than 3.5 shows a week.

The terms of this contract are terrible from memory - MJ would only get paid every 5 shows if deemed "acceptable" by AEG etc.

 

[R1chard]

Not more than any other concert at Wembley?

For the audience, it's always better to stand 28 metres from the stage than 105 metres. It looks better and it sounds better. SmoothCriminal1995 gets it.

As someone who experienced it all in real time, from The Press Conference in March 2009 to that traumatic night of June 25 2009, never once was there any talk of a tour, it was a residency.

Exactly. There was actually a positive statement that there would not be a tour. ie "these will be the final performances from Michael Jackson".

 

[Michaels Lover]

For the audience, it's always better to stand 28 metres from the stage than 105 metres. It looks better and it sounds better.

no shit sherlock? What does that have to do with what I said?

 

[Moonstreet]

Exactly. There was actually a positive statement that there would not be a tour. ie "these will be the final performances from Michael Jackson".

Reminds me of all the people after June 2009 who say they were going to go to the concerts, then you ask them what date did they have a ticket for and they say oh no, not the London concerts, I was planning to go when he came to my city. When Michael died people just assumed the concerts would be a tour, when those of us who were following all the preparations in real time between March and June knew it was only going to be a residency in London.

 

[dam2040]

Reminds me of all the people after June 2009 who say they were going to go to the concerts, then you ask them what date did they have a ticket for and they say oh no, not the London concerts, I was planning to go when he came to my city. When Michael died people just assumed the concerts would be a tour, when those of us who were following all the preparations in real time between March and June knew it was only going to be a residency in London.

Yeah, very strange. I also remember the people coming forward that they were going to be the support acts.

 

[Moonstreet]

Yeah, very strange. I also remember the people coming forward that they were going to be the support acts.

That was odd as well. People think they can say what they want to because no one will challenge them. but theres a huge amount of us who were following things in real time between March and June. Its all in the archives of this forum, as back then MJJC was very active and one of the main places all the updates were posted in real time.

Theres also lots of people who even claim they had tickets for the London concerts but again when questioned they get caught out in their lies. Theres many Americans who claim they had tickets for the London concerts, yet didnt have a passport or have flights or hotels booked or know anything about the venue. It was very funny when the refunds started coming through for those of us who DID have tickets and all the fakers were exposed.

It because a status symbol in 2009, 2010, 2011 for all the after death fans to claim they had tickets, or were going to concerts, but they didnt realize their lies could be exposed by those of us who were actually following things in real time here on MJJC and other fan forums.

 

[Billie Jean 78]

The contract for TII pre-approved 31 dates between July 26th and September 30th. Any more, they would have to demonstrate based on advancement recouping why they are needed.

Here's the god-awful contract:

https://www.scribd.com/document/55319192/AEG-Michael-Jackson-Contract-for-This-Is-It

It was never going to be 10, or 25, and they pushed it as high as they could while being less than 3.5 shows a week.

The terms of this contract are terrible from memory - MJ would only get paid every 5 shows if deemed "acceptable" by AEG etc.

Where did you get this info from? I've never heard of such an agreement so far!!

I would also estimate that Michael at that point in his life (having gone through the exhausting trial, not having performed for many years, not having made a blockbuster album for many years, times and habits having changed and also him being of a certain age, all this combined probably must have med him feel quite insecure about being commercially able to do a full blown Wembley. I'm not saying it was a justified fear - the TII demand explosion proved the contrary as we know, but they could not have known it prior to putting the tickets on sale. In my opinion it was playing it safely, just in case. From today's perspective it was unnecessary, but his selfconfidence must have been rather low... especially after the media brutality during the trial.

 

[dethorro]

Reminds me of all the people after June 2009 who say they were going to go to the concerts, then you ask them what date did they have a ticket for and they say oh no, not the London concerts, I was planning to go when he came to my city. When Michael died people just assumed the concerts would be a tour, when those of us who were following all the preparations in real time between March and June knew it was only going to be a residency in London.

Randy Phillips

(April 2009)

Do you plan a World Tour after the concerts in London?

We do not want Michael to be under much pressure. That is why we have a four-year plan, divided the world into four zones each. London is the first step, because Michael was always very popular there. Then it goes with Europe. We are thinking about coming events in Germany - we are indeed the O2 World in Berlin and the Color Line Arena in Hamburg. Then came Asia, North America at the end. But it all depends on how it runs in London. Contractually identified is still nothing.

He also talks about Concerts in Paris:

Are you thinking about concerts in Paris?

A world tour is still valid. Michael loves France and the French. If he is OK to give more concerts in the world, Paris is number one on our list.

Kenny Ortega:

(October 30, 2009)

They were also set to tour the world with their idol.

"Michael talked to me about it a lot," Ortega said of the world tour.

"We would just be hanging out on a rest break and sitting in the dressing room and he would say 'Kenny, have you ever been to India?'.

"I would say 'No, I really want to go to India so badly. I haven't been'.

"He'd say 'You must. You must. When I take the show to India whatever you are doing you have to stop and come back and join the tour'.

"He'd say 'What about Japan?'

"I'd say 'Yes of course. I love Japan. I want to go to Japan'.

"He'd say 'What about Africa?'

"I'd say 'Yes, Africa'.

"I realised he wanted the world.

"He wanted to take this all over the world."


Randy Philips

(June 28, 2009)

After his 50 concert run at O2 Arena, Jackson would have headed to Australia, Europe, India, China and Japan before then heading to his homeland of America.

"We felt London was the right place to start this comeback," Phillips said.

"Do I think the international marketplace is a little less judgmental than America can be? Yes. There was a calculated reason we did that.

"We figured we start over there and work our way back into America."

Michael Prince:

(2017)

“You’re already touring. And it wasn’t only going to be London. It was going to be all over the world.”



All of these people can’t be lying. There may have not been a signed contract as of June 2009, but it quite clearly was the plan. Other sources have mentioned this also, I can’t find the quotes right now.