Carrie Underwood gives SunDome a rare sellout

by Kim Nowacki
ON Magazine
Carrie Underwood gives SunDome a rare sellout
Associated Press file photo Singer Carrie Underwood arrives at the 50th annual Grammy Awards in this Feb. 10, 2008, file photo in Los Angeles. Underwood will be playing the Yakima Valley SunDome on May 23.
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Pop-country sensation Carrie Underwood is the second artist, ever, to sell out the Yakima Valley SunDome. Fellow country star Toby Keith was the first during his 2003 visit.

"In our market, we're never very sure" what will sell well, says Greg Lybeck, assistant general manager for State Fair Park. "We're always hopeful."

The approximately 6,800 tickets to Underwood's May 23 show, which also features opening act Josh Turner, sold out nearly three weeks ago, but there still may be a chance to snag a seat.

Lybeck estimates there are 100 to 200 tickets being withheld (it's a contract thing) that could possibly be released in the days leading up to the concert. Members of the SunDome Insiders Club -- which is free to join online at www.yakimasundome.com -- will get first crack at those tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

The now 25-year-old Underwood, a cute-as-a-bug's-ear singer from Oklahoma, rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of "American Idol" in 2005. Her debut album, "Some Hearts," featured a number of hits, including the tear-jerker "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and the scorned-girl anthem "Before He Cheats."

In February 2007, Underwood took home two Grammy Awards, one for best new artist and the other for best female country vocal performance.

Her latest album, "Carnival Ride," hit No. 1 on the Top 200 album chart and the country chart, and is currently No. 7 on the country chart after 28 weeks. The album features the hit singles "So Small," "All-American Girl" and "Last Name," all co-written by Underwood.

Last Saturday, Underwood had the honor of joining the Grand Ole Opry, the longest continuously running radio show in the U.S., whose alumni include Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline. Tourmate Turner is also a member.

Underwood's SunDome concert is the first time State Fair Park has worked with entertainment promoter AEG Live, a subsidiary of the Anschutz Entertainment Group.

"We're really pleased that it did sell out," says Lybeck. "Good results lead to more shows and bad results lead to fewer shows. We have not had the best track record."

Even when pop icon Cher made her highly anticipated stop at the SunDome in 2003, she failed to sell out the venue, as did Keith when he returned in 2006. Rapper Snoop Dogg's 2003 visit had a dismal turnout, with fewer than a third of the seats being filled. (Audience capacity varies from show to show.)

However, the next big event at the SunDome, comedian George Lopez, promises to have a packed house. (Outback Concerts is the promoter for that show.) Ticket sales for Lopez's October appearance are really strong, says Lybeck.