Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues 2010

Pollstar has announced their annual lists, including the top 100 worldwide club venues list based on ticket sales. Once again, it’s nice to see the 2,000-capacity Pageant included in the list, not only in the company of some very famous venues, but in the top five venues in the world, no less.
The full list of clubs in the ranking after the jump.
Of course, the catch here is that these rankings are all based on tickets sold and most importantly reported to Pollstar – not something all venues do. So it’s with that caveat that you have to read this list.
Regardless, it makes me proud to call The Pageant home about once a week on average throughout the year and see them doing well.
For all the music photographers out there, do you see any familiar venues on this list?

Pollstar’s 2010 Top 100 Worldwide Club-Venues
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About the author: Todd Owyoung is an internationally published music photographer specializing in concert photography and band portraits. He also grills a mean steak.
Contact Todd for image licensing and assignments wherever the rock show lives. You can also get in touch with Todd via Twitter.
This entry was posted
on Monday, January 10th, 2011 at 12:01 am and is filed under News and Info and tagged with 2010, club, list, pageant, pollstar, ranking, top 100, venue, worldwide.
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Is your house on the list? Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues of 2010: http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/10/top-10…
@toddowyoung Interesting. Been to 6. STRONGLY disagree with CrocRock in Allentown, PA. Place is a hole. Electric Factory cool, HOBAC scary.
@toddowyoung sorry, but its laughable that Terminal 5 is the **best** club in the world. invalidates the whole list
@toddowyoung Ancienne Belgique, just a little better than The Pageant. ;-) Did you ever shot a shaw at AB?
@toddowyoung oh yes. Mine is #2.
@toddowyoung oh yes. Mine is #2.
RT @toddowyoung: Is your house on the list? Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues of 2010: http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/10/top-10…
@toddowyoung my work is number 53!
Hi Todd,
AB Brussels at number 3! Great place – I plan to spend lots of time there in 2011! ;)
Cheers,
Robert
ramshead live in baltimore md……stagehand and they keep me busy
with local, regional and inter/national bands….thanks for the posat…
number 25 in world,,,
Don’t know if I would say that club Nokia was the best club in L.A.
Also, no way would I consider the Wiltern a club.
There is no evaluation other than ticket sales there, so there’s no “best” anything. They probably classify “club” as below a specific capacity. For example, the Pageant is much more a theater-style venue.
Looks like I’m lucky to live in Belgium.
Got a link to any shows from Ancienne Belgique?
Sure !
Here’s the last one I shot :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/profete/5226037124/in/set-72157624581206402/
It’s right in the center of Brussels.
This is not the biggest venue, but there are really interesting bands playing there sometimes, and the balconies are pretty interesting to shoot from.
I’m surprised that Showbox SoDo is on the list, the place is a warehouse. It doesn’t have very good acoustics but they can be as loud as they want since it’s in the warehouse district.
Neumos, Showbox & El Corazon are all really great clubs. It’s pretty flippin’ sweet to see these venues on the list honestly.
interesting for sure the one’s on there from Seattle – I shoot at mostly all the ones here as well as the theatres – while I think great venues for music – not the best for light, lol – shooting in Seattle at anything less than the theatres, none of which made the list – is challenging to say the least – the El Corazon – may be the one of the most challenging venues to shoot in the city – the Shoxbox’s vary, and Neumo’s are no piece of cake either – but they do pack em in…interesting…
Terminal 5 gets a lot of big names, but I can’t stand going there because the sight lines are horrible unless you get there early on. Love Best Buy and Starland though, so glad to see them up at the top.
Meant to say the big names must obviously lead to higher ticket prices, hence the top placement.
Pretty odd criteria for a list, but hey statistics are whatever we make them, right? :D
I see The Marquee (AZ) at #16! I’m usually shooting there about once a month.
Totally surreal to see my hometown (Asheville NC) made… well, any list at all! ;) Guess that place is growing up.
Joe’s Pub?! That place is so tiiiiiny!
Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues 2010 http://bit.ly/eHpUTO
Is your house on the list? Pollstar's Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues of 2010: http://bit.ly/fl5H3q
Whoa! @showboxsea @Neumos & El Corazon all make the Pollstar top 100 venues http://bit.ly/egUi51 cc: @toddowyoung
Asheville's own @ThePeel came in at #27 on Pollstar's 2010 Top 100 Worldwide Clubs! http://bit.ly/fVu1hE #avlent
RT @toddowyoung: Is your house on the list? Pollstar's Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues of 2010: http://bit.ly/fl5H3q
@LincolnHall RT @toddowyoung Is your house on the list? Pollstar's Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues of 2010: http://bit.ly/fl5H3q
@stubru AB door Pollstar verkozen tot 3de beste club ter wereld van 2010 http://bit.ly/fSGDbJ
@starlandnj #14 in the country :) http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/10/top-100-worldwide-club-venues-2010/
RT @toddowyoung: Is your house on the list? Pollstar's Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues of 2010: http://bit.ly/fl5H3q
AB Brussels listed as number 3 in the Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues 2010! http://bit.ly/fl5H3q
Thanks for sharing! First Ave in Minneapolis made the top 10! I live right around the corner from this incredible club. This weekend I shot photos of the exterior with my Mamiya 645 using 120mm B&W film. I’ll share photos with you once I scan them.
RT @starstruck76: @starlandnj #14 in the country :) http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/10/top-100-worldwide-club-venues-2010/
RT @starstruck76: @starlandnj #14 in the country :) http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/10/top-100-worldwide-club-venues-2010/
RT @starstruck76: @starlandnj #14 in the country :) http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/10/top-100-worldwide-club-venues-2010/
I don't know who made this list, but it sucks. http://bit.ly/fSGDbJ
RT @toddowyoung Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues 2010 http://bit.ly/fl5H3q
Congratulations to the Pageant #STL for ranking #5 on Pollstar's Top 100 Worldwide Venues list! http://tinyurl.com/4nlfras
RT @urbanSTL Congratulations to the Pageant #STL for ranking #5 on Pollstar's Top 100 Worldwide Venues list! http://tinyurl.com/4nlfras
Das kölner E-Werk hat es auf die Top 100 der meisbesuchtesten Locations von pollstar geschafft . http://bit.ly/e2aA4e
Every NYC venue is one I regularly shoot at! :)
I can attest that Terminal 5 being so lucrative makes sense. Its right off the edge of midtown, spacious enough for a lot of people, ALWAYS holds all ages gigs, and is a big favorite to those outside of the city (though oddly enough not many people here in the city find it to be an enjoyable place).
The Music Box has been ranked #18 in the top 100 Worldwide Club Venues by Pollstar! Thank you for all your support… http://fb.me/IinNoeGK
Pollstar's 2010 list of the top 100 Club-Sized Music Venues (based on ticket sales). http://t.co/2lWjF4P
owww nice, my dear ancienne belgique in brussels, one of the 2 venues im going the most at =D
2000 people when soldout, incredible audience full of passion and all and a nice list of gigs, very happy for them! (the latest yeasayer or jonsi live album was recorded there for example), i love shooting at this place!
an idea of what it looked like during pendulum?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/frf_kmeron/5055006824/in/set-72157625101777906/
yes, it WAS absolutely massive =D
Impressive! The Orange Peel ranked #27 in @Pollstars Top 100 Venues in the world. The world. http://bit.ly/fZ7t0T @thepeel #music
Best Selling Club Venues, based on ticket sales. #3 AB, Brussels. Best European venue in list packed with US venues http://bit.ly/e2aA4e
Ancienne Belgique 3rd venue in the world where the most tickets were sold in 2010 http://tinyurl.com/4nlfras How reliable is this ranking?
Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru – Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
“@stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://t.co/bYQ7wVh” en terecht.
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
Mijn favoriet!// RT @stubru Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
Brussels AB in top 3 best venues worldwide : http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/10/top-100-worldwide-club-venues-2010/
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
wtf @ABconcerts 3è du classement mondial des Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues 2010?! http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
Het staat éindelijk vast: @abconcerts is officieel de beste concertzaal van het Europese vasteland. http://bit.ly/fmkL0b #muziek #hulde
Terecht RT @jochentje Het staat éindelijk vast @abconcerts is officieel de beste concertzaal van het Europese vasteland http://bit.ly/fmkL0b
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @flexyflow: wtf @ABconcerts 3è du classement mondial des Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues 2010?! http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
L'Ancienne Belgique est 3ème au Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues http://bit.ly/e2aA4e (via @ABconcerts)
RT @micheldurso: L'Ancienne Belgique est 3ème au Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues http://bit.ly/e2aA4e (via @ABconcerts)
RT @micheldurso: L'Ancienne Belgique est 3ème au Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues http://bit.ly/e2aA4e (via @ABconcerts)
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
@agirlnamedfia Look! http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/10/top-100-worldwide-club-venues-2010/
RT @stubru: Proficiat @ABconcerts! De Ancienne Belgique is verkozen tot 3e beste muziekclub ter wereld: http://bit.ly/fXAP8c
L'AB s'offre la 3e place dans le Top Pollstar des salles de concert RT @toddowyoung Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues 2010 http://bit.ly/fl5H3q
Classement des 100 meilleures salles de concert du monde. L'Ancienne Belgique (Bruxelles) est sur le podium http://ow.ly/3Go7b
YA PAS LA FLECHE D'OR, TRO ABUSÉ RT @nicoprat: Classement des 100 meilleures salles de concert du monde. http://ow.ly/3Go7b
RT @nicoprat: Classement des 100 meilleures salles de concert du monde. L'Ancienne Belgique (Bruxelles) est sur le podium http://ow.ly/3Go7b
RT @nicoprat : Les 100 meilleures salles de concert du monde. L'Ancienne Belgique (Bruxelles) est sur le podium http://ow.ly/3Go7b
L'AB en 3ème position, fuck. http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/10/top-100-worldwide-club-venues-2010/
My favourite venue just ranked third in Pollstar's worldwide Top100. Hooray for @ABconcerts http://bit.ly/fmkL0b
benieuwd waarom Terminal 5 deze prijs heeft gewonnen, iemand hier geweest? AB Brussel eindigde derde in deze lijst http://bit.ly/e2aA4e
Terminal 5 is an absolutely terrible venue, the worst in NYC in my opinion. Overcrowded, terrible sound, bad sight lines, impossible to move around, useless balconies. A cool roof deck that had nothing to do with actual concert or music.
Every band plays there and it really pisses me off. Bowery presents gives bands such a great deal to play there it cant be passed up.
This list is an absolute joke to have Terminal 5 at the top. Was this paid for by Bowery Presents? Just because they get top acts does NOT make it a good venue. Terminal 5 is not even in the top 10 venues in NYC. The World??? you have got be kidding me.
Whoever compiled this needs to either get off the Bowery Presents payroll or get out more.
Clearly did not see it was based on ticket sales. That makes sense (take mouth insert foot). Sorry Pollstar.
Still a terrible Venue.
[...] year can’t be wrong either. The 233.450 tickets sold in 2010 have earned the AB the third spot in Pollstar’s annual list of Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues, making it the only European venue in the top 50. The backstage zone in front of the production [...]
The Pageant was voted one of the top five concert venues in the world… Upcoming shows include Chickenfoot (sold… http://t.co/gn0j6l9g
[...] in st. louis, which was recently ranked the #4 concert venue in the world for 2 years in a row: Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues 2010 – Music Photography determining which city in this matchup has a better music scene is like splitting hairs. the st. [...]
[...] year can’t be wrong either. The 233.450 tickets sold in 2010 have earned the AB the third spot in Pollstar’s annual list of Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues, making it the only European venue in the top 50. The backstage zone in front of the production [...]