The Olympic Ring recovers its pre-pandemic audience numbers

Between the months of October and December, nearly 40 concerts are due to be held in Palau Sant Jordi and the Sant Jordi Club, attracting 235,000 people, three times more than last year and approaching the figures for 2019

Before the end of the year the Olympic Ring will host concerts by Joan Manel Serrat, Antonia Font, Rigoberta Bandini, Sopa de Cabra and the Back Street Boys, among many others

So far this year, 420,000 people have enjoyed the 42 concerts held in the Olympic Ring, nearly six times more than in the same period last year    

A strong autumn calendar is coming to Palau Sant Jordi and the Sant Jordi Club. From now until the end of the year, the two venues will be hosting a total of 39 concerts. This means that nearly 250,000 people will be enjoying live music on stage at the Olympic Ring, a figure that is three times higher than the numbers recorded last autumn and practically the same as the figures for 2019, prior to the pandemic, when the two venues attracted 243,000 people.   

So far this year, Palau Sant Jordi and the Sant Jordi Club have already hosted 42 concerts, attracting a total of 420,000 people, nearly six times more than during the same period last year, even though they were still affected by restrictions. In this case, the recorded audience figures are 12% higher than in 2019, when the January to September period attracted a total of 375,000 people. 

With the pandemic now over, the return of audiences and the confirmation of new star tours and concerts have once again made the Olympic Ring a strategic area for concerts. This is true at both a local and international level, confirming that Barcelona is one of the leading Southern European venues on the international tour circuit. 

According to Jaume Collboni, the First Deputy Mayor and president of B:SM, “these figures confirm that thirty years after the Barcelona ‘92 Games, the Olympic Ring is still very much alive, positioning the city internationally as a venue for major events. Increasing numbers of music promoters are choosing the city's Olympic Ring venues as stops for the best international tours. This shows that the facilities are in a good state of health, that they are closely linked to the city's cultural dynamics and are attractive at an international level, helping to make Barcelona a top-class cultural destination".   

Serrat, Rigoberta Bandini and The Cure, among the top names performing at the Ring 

The first of this autumn's concerts featured Malú, who played at the Palau Sant Jordi last Friday, as part of her Mil Batallas Tour 2022; and Melendi, who presented her latest album, Likes y Cicatrices, on Saturday. 

In coming weeks, the Olympic Ring will be hosting Antònia Font, returning to the stage after a decade of silence. The band from Majorca will be presenting their latest album Un Minut Estroboscòpia, at Palau Sant Jordi, on 15 October. This is their first concert at the Ring. Another big name is the rapper Ayax, who after selling out his concert at the Sant Jordi Club on 21 October, has now announced a second concert for the following day. 

The Catalan singer Rigoberta Bandini is playing at Palau Sant Jordi on 24 November, in one of the last concerts on her Rigotour, before she takes a break from performing live. Another band bidding farewell is Arnau Griso, who are going their separate ways after their current farewell tour, which will be coming to the Sant Jordi Club on 25 November. The following day, 26 November, it is the turn of Sopa de Cabra, who will be closing their tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of Ben Endins, the best-selling Catalan pop-rock album of all time, at Palau Sant Jordi. And a few days later, on 3 December, Dani Martin will be performing.   

Another major event of the autumn is the triple concert by Joan Manel Serrat at Palau Sant Jordi, as part of his farewell tour, El Vicio de Cantar 1965-2022. Three consecutive concerts, on 20, 22 and 23 December, in which Serrat will be bringing 50 years of stage performances to a close.  

At an international level, the American band the Backstreet Boys are bringing their DNA World Tour to Palau Sant Jordi on 6 October. The Scottish band Franz Ferdinand is also playing, in this case at the Sant Jordi Club, on 25 October, while the American folk group Bon Iver is performing on 7 November, at Palau Sant Jordi. 

Other big names on the programme include the British group The Cure, presenting their Tour Euro 22 at Palau Sant Jordi on 10 November; the rapper Lil Nas X, on 24 November at the Sant Jordi Club; and the queens of K-Pop, Blackpink, who are playing at Palau Sant Jordi on 5 December.