Austin’s Moody Center has been named the highest-grossing midsize venue in the world for 2025, according to calculations by Billboard. This marks the second consecutive year that the venue has secured the top spot in its category. In 2023, Moody Center briefly fell to second place but reclaimed its position ahead of competitors such as Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.
With a seating capacity of 15,000, Moody Center competes with venues that accommodate between 10,001 and 15,000 guests. The Billboard annual rankings are part of a broader assessment that includes various music charts, such as the Hot 100 and the Billboard 200. From October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, Moody Center grossed an impressive $89.8 million and attracted 854,000 attendees across 94 shows, averaging around $955,300 per event.
Interestingly, a press release from the Oak View Group, which manages the Moody Center, indicated that there were 140 ticketed events this year, not factoring in home games for the University of Texas basketball teams. This discrepancy suggests that Billboard may have only accounted for concert events in its revenue calculations.
“This milestone is a testament to the incredible music fans who continue to show up in record numbers,” said Jeff Nickler, general manager of Moody Center and president of Oak View Group Austin. He added, “Our data shows that fans from all over the country are choosing to travel to Austin to see their favorite artists at Moody Center.”
The venue has hosted numerous high-profile performances over the past year, including concerts by renowned artists such as Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, and Mumford and Sons. Upcoming events in 2026 include performances by Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, and Nine Inch Nails, promising to keep the momentum going.
In addition to its financial achievements, Moody Center faced scrutiny earlier this year due to a controversy involving its co-founder and former CEO, Tim Leiweke. He was indicted in a bid-rigging scheme related to the venue’s early management. Leiweke allegedly struck a deal with another executive to exchange future subcontracting opportunities in return for withdrawing a competing bid. He received a pardon from former President Donald Trump in December, five months after the indictment.
Texas venues performed strongly in the Billboard rankings, with the American Airlines Center in Dallas and Dickies Arena in Fort Worth taking the fifth and sixth spots, respectively. Houston’s NRG Stadium and Toyota Center also made the top ten, ranking ninth and tenth.
Globally, the highest-grossing venue overall was The Sphere in Las Vegas, which generated an astounding $420.5 million due to its premium ticket pricing. This figure far surpassed that of Madison Square Garden in New York, which grossed $294.8 million.
The Billboard list of highest-grossing venues for 2025 in the midsize category is as follows:
1. Moody Center — Austin, TX — $89.8 million
2. OVO Hydro — Glasgow, Scotland — $89.6 million
3. Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, GA — $89.2 million
4. Hallenstadion — Zurich, Switzerland — $82.8 million
5. American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX — $76.7 million
6. Dickies Arena — Fort Worth, TX — $74.3 million
7. Bridgestone Arena — Nashville, TN — $73.7 million
8. Co-Op Live — Manchester, England — $73.6 million
9. NRG Stadium — Houston, TX — $71.6 million
10. Toyota Center — Houston, TX — $56.5 million
The achievements of Moody Center highlight its significance as a cultural hub in Austin and a major player in the live entertainment market.
