From Elton John to Pink Floyd, here are some of Milwaukee's most-attended concerts

Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·3 min read
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Country stars George Strait, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town set an American Family Field attendance record June 3, packing 46,641 concertgoers into the stadium.

When it comes to records, Strait and company even beat the home team; the highest attendance mark for a Brewers game at the Milwaukee ballpark is 46,218, at a game vs. the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 6, 2003. (The Brewers lost, 8-4.)

But Strait would have had to take a little bigger swing to break the mark for the biggest crowd at a concert in Milwaukee.

In concert venues, size matters. American Family Field's official capacity mark is 41,900; the ballpark it replaced, County Stadium, had a capacity of 53,192 when it closed for good in early 2001.

But County Stadium wasn't the only Milwaukee site to draw a bigger concert crowd than Strait. Here are some of the Milwaukee concerts that outdrew him.

An estimated 150,000 people flocked to Veterans Park on Aug. 31, 2003, for the grand finale of Harley-Davidson's 100th anniversary week, but the crowd thinned out considerably when surprise headliner Elton John took the stage.
An estimated 150,000 people flocked to Veterans Park on Aug. 31, 2003, for the grand finale of Harley-Davidson's 100th anniversary week, but the crowd thinned out considerably when surprise headliner Elton John took the stage.

Elton John's 'surprise' concert at Harley-Davidson's 100th anniversary party

For its massive 100th anniversary bash, Harley-Davidson set up as the crown jewel of its long weekend event "The Party," a huge free concert with a mystery headliner. Local Harley dealerships distributed about 150,000 free tickets, and the faithful packed Veterans Park on Aug. 31, 2003, expecting to see either Bruce Springsteen (who was scheduled to play at Miller Park a month later) or the Rolling Stones (who were touring in Europe at the time). To their surprise — and soon after, vocal, scorn-filled boos — the mystery man was Elton John.

Sly and the Family Stone in 1968
Sly and the Family Stone in 1968

Sly and the Family Stone at Summerfest, 1970

While both Summerfest attendance tallies and Milwaukee police crowd estimates were not the most reliable sources in those days, pop-funk legends Sly and the Family Stone attracted more than 100,000 people to Milwaukee's lakefront on July 26, 1970 — and made an indelible mark on the festival's history as the first huge concert at the Summerfest grounds.

The crowd mills around the outfield at County Stadium in Milwaukee after Pink Floyd left the stage on June 15, 1977. About 60,000 people attended the concert, two years after Pink Floyd played before 54,000 in the same ballpark.
The crowd mills around the outfield at County Stadium in Milwaukee after Pink Floyd left the stage on June 15, 1977. About 60,000 people attended the concert, two years after Pink Floyd played before 54,000 in the same ballpark.

RELATED: From George Carlin's arrest to the Rolling Stones show, relive Summerfest's 13 most memorable milestones

Pink Floyd at County Stadium; 1975, 1977 and 1987

The Floyd packed the Milwaukee ballpark three times: in 1975, when 54,000 people came out for the band's "Dark Side of the Moon" tour; an estimated 60,000 in 1977 for its "Animals" tour (complete with a giant inflatable pig hovering over the stadium); and another 60,000 in 1987.

Backed-up traffic outside Milwaukee's County Stadium delayed the start of Pink Floyd's 1987 concert at the ballpark, forcing the fans to find other ways to entertain themselves. About 60,000 fans attended the show, one of the biggest concert crowds ever in Milwaukee.
Backed-up traffic outside Milwaukee's County Stadium delayed the start of Pink Floyd's 1987 concert at the ballpark, forcing the fans to find other ways to entertain themselves. About 60,000 fans attended the show, one of the biggest concert crowds ever in Milwaukee.

World Series of Rock with REO Speedwagon at County Stadium, 1981

As many as 60,000 people piled into County Stadium on Sept. 5, 1981, for the first World Series of Rock concert at the ballpark. Midwestern rock heroes REO Speedwagon, at the peak of their fame, were the headliners on a bill that included April Wine, Blackfoot and the Michael Stanley Band. One possible factor driving up the attendance for what might not seem like a stadium-level lineup: The Labor Day weekend concert was the first rock show at County Stadium in three years.

REO Speedwagon fans jam County Stadium for the World Series of Rock, a daylong music festival on Sept. 5, 1981, that also featured April Wine, Blackfoot and the Michael Stanley Band. About 60,000 people, one of the biggest concert crowds to play County Stadium, were in the house.
REO Speedwagon fans jam County Stadium for the World Series of Rock, a daylong music festival on Sept. 5, 1981, that also featured April Wine, Blackfoot and the Michael Stanley Band. About 60,000 people, one of the biggest concert crowds to play County Stadium, were in the house.

Rolling Stones at County Stadium, 1975

The Rolling Stones attracted 54,000 people to the ballpark on June 5, 1975, with openers Rufus (with Chaka Khan) and the Eagles.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young take the stage at County Stadium before about 52,000 people on July 21, 1974.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young take the stage at County Stadium before about 52,000 people on July 21, 1974.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young at County Stadium, 1974

The rock supergroup reunited in 1974 for a stadium tour that included a stop at County Stadium on July 21, 1974. An estimated 52,000 were in attendance. CSNY's unlikely openers: the Beach Boys.

Bruce Springsteen performs at Veterans Park during Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration on Aug. 30, 2008. About 50,000 people were in attendance.
Bruce Springsteen performs at Veterans Park during Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration on Aug. 30, 2008. About 50,000 people were in attendance.

Bruce Springsteen in Veterans Park for Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary

The rock legend that many people had convinced themselves would play for Harley's 100th (see above) turned out for the 105th, giving one of his trademark, never-ending shows for about 50,000 fans on Aug. 30, 2008.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's most-attended concerts, from Elton John to Pink Floyd